| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” | 1This saying is trustworthy: "If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work." |
| 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. | 2The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, |
| 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. | 3not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. |
| 4He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. | 4He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. |
| 5For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? | 5But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will 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 arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. |
| 7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. | 7And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap. |
| 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 two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, |
| 9They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. | 9holding 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. | 10And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless. |
| 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. | 11Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect. |
| 12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. | 12Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households. |
| 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 gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness 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, | 14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you |
| 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, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark 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. | 16And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. |
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