King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
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The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
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Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
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not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
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He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way—
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
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for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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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 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
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Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace 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;
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Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
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they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
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And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
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Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
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Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households 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.
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for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
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I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,
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.
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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 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.
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Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.