He may not be a young scholar, lest he being puffed up fall into the [a]condemnation of the devil.

He must also be well reported of, even of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the devil.

[b]Likewise must [c]Deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given unto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:6 Lest by reason that he is advanced to that degree, he take occasion to be proud, which will undo him, and so he fall into the same condemnation that the devil himself is fallen into.
  2. 1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise the Deacons must first be proved that there may be a good trial of their honesty, truth, sobriety, mind, void of covetousness, that they are well instructed in the doctrine of faith, and to be short, of their good conscience and integrity.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:8 These are they that had to see to the poor.

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(A) and fall under the same judgment(B) as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(C) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(D)

In the same way, deacons[a](E) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(F) and not pursuing dishonest gain.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.