1 ¶ The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop, he desires a difficult ministry.
The saying is true and irrefutable: If any man seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).
2 I t is expedient, therefore, that the bishop be blameless, the husband of only one wife, vigilant, temperate, of worldly affections mortified, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Now 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,
3 n ot given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;
Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money.
4 o ne that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all integrity;
He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful.
5 ( for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the congregation of God?)
For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?
6 n ot a novice, lest being puffed up, he fall into judgment of the devil.
He must not be a new convert, or he may as the result of pride fall into the condemnation that the devil did.
7 M oreover he must have a good report of those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Furthermore, 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.
8 ¶ Likewise the deacons must be honest, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain;
In 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.
9 h olding the mystery of the faith together with a pure conscience.
They must possess the mystic secret of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 A nd let these also first be proved; then let them minister, if they are blameless.
And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve.
11 T he wives likewise are to be honest, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, trustworthy in all things.
12 L et the deacons be the husbands of only one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage children and their own households well.
13 F or those that minister well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For 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.
14 ¶ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly
Although I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that,
15 B ut if I tarry long, that thou may know how it is expedient to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.
If 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.
16 A nd without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
And 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.