1 Timothy 3:2

The Passion Translation

Yet an elder needs to be one who is without blame before others. He should be one whose heart is for his wife alone and not another woman. He should be recognized as one who is sensible, and well-behaved, and living a disciplined life. He should be a “spiritual shepherd” who has the gift of teaching, and is known for his hospitality.

Cross References

Isaiah 56:10

Blind watchmen, all of them! They have no revelation-knowledge; they’re like dumb dogs that don’t even bark— dreaming, sleeping, devoted to slumber.

Luke 1:6

They were both righteous before God, living virtuously and following the commandments of the Lord blamelessly.

Luke 2:36

A prophetess named Anna was also in the temple court that day. She was from the tribe of Asher and the daughter of Phanuel. Anna was an aged widow who had been married only seven years before her husband passed away. After he died she chose to worship God in the temple continually. For the past eighty-four years she had been serving God with night-and-day prayer and fasting.

Romans 12:13

Take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home.

Philippians 2:15

For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe,

1 Timothy 3:12

A deacon’s heart must be toward his wife alone, leading his children and household with excellence.

1 Timothy 3:8

And in the same way the deacons must be those who are pure and true to their word, not addicted to wine, or with greedy eyes on the contributions.

1 Timothy 4:3

They will require celibacy and dietary restrictions that God doesn’t expect, for he created all foods to be received with the celebration of faith by those who fully know the truth.

1 Timothy 5:10

They should have a beautiful testimony of raising their families, practicing hospitality, encouraging other believers, comforting troubled ones, and have a reputation for doing good works.

1 Timothy 5:22

Don’t be hasty to ordain them with the laying on of hands, or you may end up sharing in their guilt should they fall. Keep yourself pure and holy with your standards high.

1 Timothy 5:9

The widows who are worthy to be supported by the church should be at least sixty years old and not remarried.

2 Timothy 2:24

For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature.

Titus 2:2

Lead the male elders into disciplined lives full of dignity and self-control. Urge them to have a solid faith, generous love, and patient endurance.

Hebrews 13:2

And show hospitality to strangers, for they may be angels from God showing up as your guests.

Hebrews 3:14

For we are mingled with the Messiah, if we will continue unshaken in this confident assurance from the beginning until the end.

1 Peter 4:7

Since we are approaching the end of all things, be intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer.

1 Peter 4:9

Be compassionate to foreigners without complaining.

1 Peter 5:8

Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour.