1 Timothy 3
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
Qualifications for Overseers or Elders.
3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires
to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer
must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own
household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,5 for if
someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for
God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up
with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must
be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a
snare of the devil.
Titus 1:5ff
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you
might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I
directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his
children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or
insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy
for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy,
and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that
he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those
who contradict it.
Qualifications for Deacons
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not
double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let
them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove
themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not
slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be
the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own household.
Acts 6; 1-7
ESV
Now in these
days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the
Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being
neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,
“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve
tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,
whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the
word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose
Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor,
and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to
increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and
a great many of the priestsbecame obedient to the faith.