1 What I say is true: If anyone wants to become an overseer, he is wanting a good work.
2 An overseer must be so good that people cannot rightly criticize him. He must have only one wife. He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by other people and must be ready to help people by accepting them into his home. He must be a good teacher.
3 He must not drink too much wine, and he must not be a man who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not love money.
4 He must be a good leader of his own family so that his children obey him with full respect.
5 (If a man does not know how to be a leader over his own family, he will not be able to take care of God’s church.)
6 But an elder must not be a new believer. A new believer might be too proud of himself. Then he would be judged guilty for his pride just as the devil was.
7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church. Then he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil’s trap.