3 These words are true: ‘If you want to become a leader of God's people, it is an important work that you want to do.’ 2 For that reason, a leader of the church must live a life that everyone knows is good. He must be the husband of one wife. He must think seriously about how he lives and he must control himself well. He must be someone that people respect. He must be happy to have visitors in his home. He must be a good teacher. 3 He should not drink too much wine. He must not get angry quickly or quarrel with people. Instead he should be kind to people. He must not want lots of money. 4 He must take care of his own family. His children must obey him and respect him. 5 A man must know how to take care of his own family. If he cannot do that, he will not be able to take care of God's people in the church.
6 A leader of the church must not be someone who has believed in Christ for only a short time. Someone like that might boast that he is great and important. Then he would receive punishment, as the Devil did. 7 Also, people outside the church should agree that the leader is a good person. Then nobody can say anything bad against him. And so, he will not come under the Devil's power. [ a ]
8 In the same way, deacons must live good lives, so that people respect them. They must not be hypocrites. They must not drink too much wine. They must not want to get a lot of money for themselves. 9 They must completely believe the true message that God has shown us about Christ. They must be sure in their minds about it. 10 Before anyone becomes a deacon, you must first test their character. If they are good enough, then let them serve God as deacons.
11 Deacons' wives must live good lives, so that people respect them. [ b ] They must not say bad things against people. They must think carefully about how they live. People should know that they are honest in everything they do.
12 A deacon must be the husband of one wife. He must take care of his children and everyone who lives in his house. 13 If a deacon serves God's people well, then people will respect him as a good person. He will become strong to tell people about his faith in Christ Jesus.
14 I hope to come to visit you soon. But anyway, I want to write these things to you now. 15 Then, even if I cannot come to you soon, you will know how people in God's family should live. That family is the church of God, who lives for ever. God's family, the church, teaches God's true message and keeps it safe.
16 Yes, the message that God has shown us about Jesus Christ is very great. We all agree to this:
God showed him to us as a man.
God's Spirit showed that he always did what was right.
Angels saw him.
People taught his message in many countries of the world.
People in the world believed in him.
God took him up to be with himself in heaven. [ c ]
3 It is a true statement that anyone whose goal is to serve as an elder [ a ] has his heart set on a good work. 2 An elder [ b ] must be such a good man that no one can rightly criticize him. He must be faithful to his wife. [ c ] He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by others. He must be ready to help people by welcoming them into his home. He must be a good teacher. 3 He must not drink too much, and he must not be someone who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not be someone who loves money. 4 He must be a good leader of his own family. This means that his children obey him with full respect. 5 If a man does not know how to lead his own family, he will not be able to take care of God’s church.
6 An elder must not be a new believer. It might make him too proud of himself. Then he would be condemned for his pride the same as the devil was. 7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not part of the church. Then he will not be criticized by others and be caught in the devil’s trap.
8 In the same way, the men who are chosen to be special servants must have the respect of others. They must not be men who say things they don’t mean or who spend their time drinking too much. They must not be men who will do almost anything for money. 9 They must follow the true faith that God has now made known to us and always do what they know is right. 10 You should test them first. Then, if you find that they have done nothing wrong, they can be special servants.
11 In the same way, the women [ d ] must have the respect of others. They must not be women who speak evil about other people. They must have self-control and be women who can be trusted in everything.
12 The men who are special servants must be faithful in marriage. [ e ] They must be good leaders of children and their own families. 13 Those who do well as special servants are making an honorable place for themselves. And they will feel very sure of their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 I hope I can come to you soon. But I am writing this to you now, 15 so that, even if I cannot come soon, you will know how people should live in the family [ f ] of God. That family is the church of the living God. And God’s church is the support and foundation of the truth. 16 Without a doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great:
Christ [ g ] was shown to us in human form;
the Spirit proved that he was right;
he was seen by angels.
The message about him was told to the nations;
people in the world believed in him;
he was taken up to heaven in glory.
3 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 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 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 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 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.
3 ( A ) It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the ( B ) office of [ a ] overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do . 2 [ b ] ( C ) An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ( D ) the husband of one wife, [ c ] ( E ) temperate, self-controlled, respectable, ( F ) hospitable, ( G ) skillful in teaching, 3 ( H ) not overindulging in wine, not [ d ] a bully, but gentle, not contentious, ( I ) free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who ( J ) manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of ( K ) the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become ( L ) conceited and fall into ( M ) condemnation [ e ] incurred by the devil. 7 And he must ( N ) have a good reputation with ( O ) those outside the church , so that he will not fall into [ f ] disgrace and ( P ) the snare of the devil.
8 ( Q ) Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not [ g ] insincere, ( R ) not prone to drink much wine, ( S ) not greedy for money, 9 ( T ) but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 ( U ) These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 [ h ] Women must likewise be dignified, ( V ) not malicious gossips, but [ i ] ( W ) temperate, faithful in all things. 12 ( X ) Deacons must be ( Y ) husbands of one wife, and [ j ] ( Z ) good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons ( AA ) obtain for themselves a [ k ] high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but [ l ] in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in ( AB ) the household of God, which is the ( AC ) church of ( AD ) the living God, the ( AE ) pillar and support of the truth. 16 Beyond question, great is ( AF ) the mystery of godliness:
He who was ( AG ) revealed in the flesh,
Was [ m ] ( AH ) vindicated [ n ] in the Spirit,
( AI ) Seen by angels,
( AJ ) Proclaimed among the nations,
( AK ) Believed on in the world,
( AL ) Taken up in glory.
3 Here is a trustworthy saying: ( A ) Whoever aspires to be an overseer ( B ) desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, ( C ) faithful to his wife, ( D ) temperate, ( E ) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, ( F ) able to teach, ( G ) 3 not given to drunkenness, ( H ) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, ( I ) not a lover of money. ( J ) 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full [ a ] respect. ( K ) 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ( L ) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited ( M ) and fall under the same judgment ( N ) as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, ( O ) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. ( P )
8 In the same way, deacons [ b ] ( Q ) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, ( R ) and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ( S ) 10 They must first be tested; ( T ) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women [ c ] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers ( U ) but temperate ( V ) and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife ( W ) and must manage his children and his household well. ( X ) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church ( Y ) of the living God, ( Z ) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery ( AA ) from which true godliness ( AB ) springs is great:
