Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 This saying is reliable: if anyone has a goal to be a supervisor in the church, they want a good thing.
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The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.
2 So the church's supervisor must be without fault. They should be faithful to their spouse, sober, modest, and honest. They should show hospitality and be skilled at teaching.
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Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher,
3 They shouldn't be addicted to alcohol or be a bully. Instead, they should be gentle, peaceable, and not greedy.
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no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.
4 They should manage their own household well—they should see that their children are obedient with complete respect,
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He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way;
5 because if they don't know how to manage their own household, how can they take care of God's church?
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for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?
6 They shouldn't be new believers so that they won't become proud and fall under the devil's spell.
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He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;
7 They should also have a good reputation with those outside the church so that they won't be embarrassed and fall into the devil's trap.
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moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 In the same way, servants in the church should be dignified, not two-faced, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money.
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Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain;
9 They should hold on to the faith that has been revealed with a clear conscience.
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they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They should also be tested and then serve if they are without fault.
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And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, women who are servants in the church should be dignified and not gossip. They should be sober and faithful in everything they do.
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The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Servants must be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and their own households well.
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Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well;
13 Those who have served well gain a good standing and considerable confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
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for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 I hope to come to you quickly. But I'm writing these things to you so that
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I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,
15 if I'm delayed, you'll know how you should behave in God's household. It is the church of the living God and the backbone and support of the truth.
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if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.
16 Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory.
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Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.