1 Overseers and Deacons It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of 3:1Or bishop overseer, he desires a good work.
2 3:2 Lit The An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine 3:3 Lit not or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money;
4 leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 andnot a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outsidethe church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewisemust bedignified, not 3:8Or given to double-talk double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,
9 butholding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 3:11 Either deacons’ wives or deaconesses Womenmustlikewisebedignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons must be husbands ofonlyone wife, leadingtheirchildren and their own households well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a 3:13 Lit good high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon,
15 but 3:15 Lit if I delay in case I am delayed,I writeso that you will know how 3:15 Or you ought to conduct yourself 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 And by common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:He who was manifested in the flesh,Was 3:16 Or justified vindicated 3:16 Or by in the Spirit,Seen by angels,Proclaimed among the nations,Believed on in the world,Taken up in glory.