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

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

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

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

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

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 o ne that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

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

(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6 n ot a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

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

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

9 h olding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

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

These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

11 W omen in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

12 L et deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

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

For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

14 T hese things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

15 b ut 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.

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

16 A nd 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.

By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.