Qualifications for Overseers

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

3 [This is] a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, [the] husband of but one wife,[fn] temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not dependent on wine, not violent, not greedy for money,[fn] but gentle, peaceable, [and] free of the love of money.

4 [An overseer must] manage [his] own household well [and] keep [his] children under control, with complete dignity. 5 [For] if someone {does} not know how to manage [his] own household, [how] can he care for [the] church of God? 6 [He must] not [be] a recent convert, or he may become conceited [and] fall under [ the same ] condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and [into the] snare of the devil.