| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. | 1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” |
| 2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, | 2So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. |
| 3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. | 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. |
| 4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, | 4He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. |
| 5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? | 5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? |
| 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. | 6A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. |
| 7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. | 7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. |
| 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. | 8In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. |
| 9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. | 9They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. |
| 10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. | 10Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. |
| 11Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. | 11In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. |
| 12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. | 12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. |
| 13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. | 13Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. The Truths of Our Faith |
| 14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, | 14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, |
| 15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. | 15so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. | 16Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith : Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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