aIt is a trustworthy statement
: if
any
man
aspires
to the boffice
of 1overseer
, it is a fine
work
he desires
to do.
1 aAn overseer, then
, must
be above
reproach
, bthe husband
of one
wife
, ctemperate
, prudent
, respectable
, dhospitable
, eable
to teach
,
anot addicted to wine
1or
pugnacious
, but gentle
, peaceable
, bfree
from the love
of money
.
He must be one who amanages his own
household
well
, keeping
his children
under
control
with all
dignity
(but if a man
does not know
how
to manage
his own
household
, how
will he take
care
of athe church
of God
?),
and not a new convert
, so
that he will not become aconceited
and fall
into the bcondemnation
1incurred by the devil
.
And he must ahave
a good
reputation
with bthose
outside
the church, so
that he will not fall
into reproach
and cthe snare
of the devil
.
aDeacons likewise
must be men
of dignity
, not 1double-tongued
, 2 bor
addicted
to much
wine
2 cor
fond
of sordid
gain
,
abut holding to the mystery
of the faith
with a clear
conscience
.
aThese men must also
first
be tested
; then
let them serve
as deacons
if they are beyond
reproach
.
1Women must likewise
be dignified
, anot malicious
gossips
, but btemperate
, faithful
in all
things
.
aDeacons must be bhusbands
of only one
wife
, and 1 cgood
managers
of their children
and their own
households
.
For those who have served
well
as deacons
aobtain
for themselves
a 1high
standing
and great
confidence
in the faith
that is in Christ
Jesus
.
I am writing these
things
to you, hoping
to come
to you before
long
;
but 1in case I am
delayed
, I write so
that you will know
how
2one ought
to conduct
himself in athe household
of God
, which
is the bchurch
of cthe living
God
, the dpillar
and support
of the truth
.
By common confession
, great
is athe mystery
of godliness
: He who
was brevealed
in the flesh
, Was 1 cvindicated
2in the Spirit
, dSeen
by angels
, eProclaimed
among
the nations
, fBelieved
on in the world
, gTaken
up in glory
.