1 ¶ The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop, he desires a difficult ministry.

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

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 wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;

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

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

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

5 ( for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the congregation 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, lest being puffed up, he fall into judgment 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 M oreover he must have a good report of those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the 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 ¶ Likewise the deacons must be honest, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain;

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 together with 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 also first be proved; then let them minister, if they are blameless.

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 T he wives likewise are to be honest, not slanderers, temperate, 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 the deacons be the husbands of only one wife, ruling their 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 that minister well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is 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 ¶ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly

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

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.

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 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.

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.