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

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 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.

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

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

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

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

one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

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

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 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.

not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 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

Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 C hurch 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.

Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

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

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 T hey 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.

And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

11 T he 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.

Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

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

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 T hose 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

For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

15 b ecause 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.

but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16 I t 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.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.