| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” | 1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. |
| 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. | 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
| 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. | 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. |
| 4He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. | 4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. |
| 5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? | 5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? |
| 6A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. | 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as 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. | 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil. |
| 8In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. | 8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. |
| 9They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. | 9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. |
| 10Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. | 10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons. |
| 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. | 11In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things. |
| 12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. | 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. |
| 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 | 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. |
| 14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, | 14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things |
| 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. | 15in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 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. | 16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory. |
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