New Living Translation NLT
English Standard Version ESV
1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.”
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The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 So an elder 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.
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Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.
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not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.
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He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
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for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
6 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
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He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.
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Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.
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Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
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They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.
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And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
11 In 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.
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Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.
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Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith 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 that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon,
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I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
15 so 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.
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if 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.
16 Without 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.
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Great 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025