1 T his is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 T he overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 n ot a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

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

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

5 ( but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)

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

6 n ot a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 M oreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 S ervants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 h olding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 L et them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 T heir wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 L et servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

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

13 F or those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 T hese things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;

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

15 b ut if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16 W ithout controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

And 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.