1 T he word faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

It is true that if a man wants to be a church leader, he wants to do a good work.

2 T he overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;

A church leader must be a good man. His life must be so no one can say anything against him. He must have only one wife and must be respected for his good living. He must be willing to take people into his home. He must be willing to learn and able to teach the Word of God.

3 n ot given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

He must not get drunk or want to fight. Instead, he must be gentle. He must not have a love for money.

4 c onducting his own house well, having children in subjection with all gravity;

He should be a good leader in his own home. His children must obey and respect him.

5 ( but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)

If a man cannot be a good leader in his own home, how can he lead the church?

6 n ot a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into fault of the devil.

A church leader must not be a new Christian. A new Christian might become proud and fall into sin which is brought on by the devil.

7 B ut it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and snare of the devil.

A church leader must be respected by people who are not Christians so nothing can be said against him. In that way, he will not be trapped by the devil. What the Church Helpers Must Be Like

8 M inisters, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

Church helpers must also be good men and act so people will respect them. They must speak the truth. They must not get drunk. They must not have a love for money.

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

They must have their faith in Christ and be His follower with a heart that says they are right.

10 A nd let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge.

They must first be tested to see if they are ready for the work as church helpers. Then if they do well, they may be chosen as church helpers.

11 w omen in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

The wives of church helpers must be careful how they act. They must not carry stories from one person to another. They must be wise and faithful in all they do.

12 L et ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting children and their own houses well:

Church helpers must have only one wife. They must lead their home well and their children must obey them.

13 f or those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which in Christ Jesus.

Those who work well as church helpers will be respected by others and their own faith in Christ Jesus will grow. Why Paul Writes to Timothy

14 T hese things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;

I hope to come to you soon. I am writing these things

15 b ut if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is assembly of living God, pillar and base of the truth.

because it may be awhile before I get there. I wanted you to know how you should act among people in the church which is the house of the living God. The church holds up the truth.

16 A nd confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among nations, has been believed on in world, has been received up in glory.

It is important to know the secret of God-like living, which is: Christ came to earth as a Man. He was pure in His Spirit. He was seen by angels. The nations heard about Him. Men everywhere put their trust in Him. He was taken up into heaven.