1 Timothy 3:1) Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
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Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
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not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
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He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
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(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)
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He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
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He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
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Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
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They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
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They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
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In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
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A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
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Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
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Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that,
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if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
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Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, [7] was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
2 Timothy 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
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To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
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I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
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Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
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I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
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So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,
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who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
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but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
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And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
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That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
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What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
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Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
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You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
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May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
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On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.
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May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
