1 T he saying is true and irrefutable: If any man seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 N ow a bishop (superintendent, overseer) must give no grounds for accusation but must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, circumspect and temperate and self-controlled; sensible and well behaved and dignified and lead an orderly (disciplined) life; hospitable a capable and qualified teacher,

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 N ot given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money.

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

4 H e must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful.

one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 F or if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 H e must not be a new convert, or he may as the result of pride fall into the condemnation that the devil did.

not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 F urthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside, lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil’s trap.

Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 I n like manner the deacons worthy of respect, not shifty and double-talkers but sincere in what they say, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain.

Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 T hey must possess the mystic secret of the faith with a clear conscience.

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 A nd let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve.

And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

11 w omen likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, trustworthy in all things.

Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12 L et deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage children and their own households well.

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 F or those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 A lthough I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that,

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

15 I f I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth.

but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16 A nd great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He '> God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.