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

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

2 A n overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able 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 addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money.

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

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 ( but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church 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 a nd not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by 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 A nd 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.

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 D eacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid 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 b ut holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

They must possess the mystic secret of the faith with a clear conscience.

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

And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve.

11 W omen must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but 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 D eacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage children and their own households well.

13 F or those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that 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 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

Although I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that,

15 b ut 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.

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 B y 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.

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.