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

Stedfast the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

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.

it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, 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.

not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

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

his own house leading well, having 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?

(and if any one his own house to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

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 new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment 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

and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a 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.

Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

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

having the secret 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 minister, being unblameable.

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 grave, not false accusers, vigilant, 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.

Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

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 those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that in Christ Jesus.

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

These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

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.

and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation 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, confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!