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

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires 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,

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able 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.

not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

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 who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

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?

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will 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 with pride he fall into the same condemnation as 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 a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Qualifications of Deacons

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.

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

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

holding the mystery of the faith with 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.

But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

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

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, 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 the 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 those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. The Great Mystery

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

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you 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 am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself 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: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.