An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,
Parallel translations
- WEB The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
- KJV A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
- BSB An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
- NKJV A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
- NLT So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An overseer must be above reproach, faithful in marriage, self-controlled, and able to teach. It sets character, not charisma, as the core of leadership.
Overview
Paul lists qualities marking a blameless leader: temperate, sensible, hospitable, and skilled in teaching. 'Husband of one wife' stresses marital faithfulness, though its precise application is discussed among faithful Christians. The emphasis falls on proven, godly character fit to shepherd God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Titus 1:6–9if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.
- 2 Tim 2:24The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient,
- Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- 1 Tim 5:9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man,
- 1 Pet 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- 1 Tim 3:10–11Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
- Heb 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Titus 2:2that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance:
- Phil 2:15that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,
- Luke 1:6They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
- 1 Pet 4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
- 1 Tim 4:3forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
- Heb 3:14For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end:
- Isa 56:10His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
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There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
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Original language
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