⁷ if ^[a](A)service, in the act of serving; or the one who ^(B)teaches, in the act of teaching;

⁸ or the one who ^[a](A)exhorts, in the work of ^[b]exhortation; the one who gives, with ^[c](B)generosity; ^(C)the one who ^[d]is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with ^(D)cheerfulness.

Greetings and Love Expressed

16 I ^(A)recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a ^[a]servant of the church which is at ^(B)Cenchrea,

⁸ For to one is given the word of ^(A)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of ^(B)knowledge according to the same Spirit;

²⁸ And God has ^[a](A)appointed in ^(B)the church, first ^(C)apostles, second ^(D)prophets, third ^(E)teachers, then ^[b](F)miracles, then ^(G)gifts of healings, helps, ^(H)administrations, and various ^(I)kinds of tongues.

Overseers and Deacons

3 ^(A)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the ^(B)office of ^[a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. ^2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(D)the husband of one wife, ^[c](E)temperate, self-controlled, respectable, ^(F)hospitable, ^(G)skillful in teaching, ^3 (H)not overindulging in wine, not ^[d]a bully, but gentle, not contentious, ^(I)free from the love of money. ⁴ He must be one who ^(J)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of ^(K)the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(L)conceited and fall into ^(M)condemnation ^[e]incurred by the devil. ⁷ And he must ^(N)have a good reputation with ^(O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into ^[f]disgrace and ^(P)the snare of the devil.

^8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not ^[g]insincere, ^(R)not prone to drink much wine, ^(S)not greedy for money, ^9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ^10 (U)These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ^11 [h]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(V)not malicious gossips, but ^[i](W)temperate, faithful in all things. ^12 (X)Deacons must be ^(Y)husbands of one wife, and ^[j](Z)good managers of their children and their own households. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(AA)obtain for themselves a ^[k]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; ¹⁵ but ^[l]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in ^(AB)the household of God, which is the ^(AC)church of ^(AD)the living God, the ^(AE)pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond question, great is ^(AF)the mystery of godliness:

⁷ Remember ^(A)those who led you, who spoke ^(B)the word of God to you; and considering the ^[a]result of their way of life, ^(C)imitate their faith.

Serve God Willingly

5 ^(A)Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your ^(B)fellow elder and a ^(C)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a ^[a](D)fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: ² shepherd ^(E)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, ^(F)not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and ^(G)not ^[b]with greed but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as ^(H)domineering over ^[c]those assigned to your care, but by ^[d]proving to be ^[e](I)examples to the flock.