1 ^bThe saying is trustworthy: ^cIf anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an ^doverseer¹ must be above reproach, ^ethe husband of one wife,² 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 ^fmanage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, ^ghow will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become ^hpuffed 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 ⁱsnare of the devil.

12 ^vLet no one despise you for your youth, but ^wset the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until ^xI come, devote yourself to the public ^yreading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, ^zwhich was given you by prophecy when the council of elders ^alaid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,¹ so that all may see your ^bprogress.