Bible verses about "first lady of the church" | ISV

¹ Counsel from King Lemuel’s Mother The words of King Lemuel— a pronouncement with which his mother encouraged him. ² No, my son! No, my son whom I conceived! No, my son to whom I gave birth! ³ Never devote all your energy to sex, or dedicate your life to destroying kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel— Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor. ⁵ Otherwise, they may drink and forget what has been ordained, perverting justice for all the oppressed. ⁶ Give liquor to someone who is perishing, and wine to someone who is deeply depressed. ⁷ Let him drink, forget his poverty, and remember his troubles no more. ⁸ Speak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction. ⁹ Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
¹⁰ The Honorable WomanWho can find a capable wife? Her value far exceeds the finest jewels. ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her; as a result, he lacks nothing of value. ¹² She will bring good to him—never evil— every day of her life. ¹³ She seeks out wool and flax, working with eager hands. ¹⁴ She is like a seagoing ship that brings her food from far away. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants. ¹⁶ She evaluates a field and purchases it; from the proceeds she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She clothes herself with fortitude, and fortifies her arms with strength. ¹⁸ She is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out at night. ¹⁹ She works with her own hands on her clothes— her hands work the sewing spindle. ²⁰ She reaches out to the poor, opening her hands to those in need. ²¹ She is unafraid of winter’s effect on her household, because all of them are warmly clothed. ²² She creates her own bedding, using fine linen and violet cloth. ²³ Her husband is well known; he sits among the leaders of the land. ²⁴ She designs and sells linen garments, supplying accessories to clothiers. ²⁵ Strength and dignity are her garments; she smiles about the future. ²⁶ She speaks wisely, teaching with gracious love. ²⁷ She looks discretely to the affairs of her household, and she is never lazy. ²⁸ Her children stand up and encourage her, as does her husband, who praises her: ²⁹ “Many women have done wonderful things,” he says, “but you surpass all of them!” ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty fades; but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. ³¹ Reward her for her work— let her actions result in public praise.

⁴ I must do the work of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is approaching, when no one can work.

¹² When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘She is his wife.’ Then they’ll kill me, but allow you to live.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴ Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.

¹ Jesus, the Word of LifeWhat existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we observed and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life!

² Older men are to be sober, serious, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. ³ Likewise, older women are to show their reverence for God by their behavior. They are not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of goodness. ⁴ They should encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children,

³ You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

²⁵ Strength and dignity are her garments; she smiles about the future.

¹ Qualifications for Leaders in the ChurchThis is a trustworthy saying: The one who would an elder be, a noble task desires he. ² Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable. ³ He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way. ⁵ For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, so that he won’t become arrogant and fall into the devil’s condemnation. ⁷ He must be well thought of by outsiders, so he doesn’t fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by the devil.
⁸ Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money. ⁹ They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences. ¹⁰ But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become ministers. ¹¹ Their wives must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything. ¹² Ministers must be husbands of one wife and must manage their children and their families well. ¹³ Those ministers who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance by their faith in the Messiah Jesus.
¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon. However, I’m writing this to you ¹⁵ in case I am delayed, so that you may know how to behave in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ By common confession, the secret of our godly worship is great: In flesh was he revealed to sight, kept righteous by the Spirit’s might, adored by angels singing. To nations was he manifest, believing souls found peace and rest, our Lord in heaven reigning!

³ Advice about Head CoveringsNow I want you to realize that the Messiah is the head of every man, and man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of the Messiah.

¹⁰ The Honorable WomanWho can find a capable wife? Her value far exceeds the finest jewels.

³¹ Reward her for her work— let her actions result in public praise.