1 T his is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires 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 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

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

3 n ot given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

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

4 o ne who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

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

5 ( for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will 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 with pride he fall into the same condemnation as 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 a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Qualifications of Deacons

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 L ikewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

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 with a pure conscience.

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

10 B ut let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

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

11 L ikewise, their wives must be reverent, 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 the 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 those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. The Great Mystery

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 I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;

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

15 b ut if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself 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: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, 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.