Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Overseers Must Be Above Reproach

3 The saying is trustworthy— if anyone aspires-to the office-of-overseer, he desires a good work. ² Therefore the overseer must be above-reproach^[a], a man of one woman^[b], sober^[c], sound-minded^[d], respectable^[e], hospitable, skillful-at-teaching, ³ not a drunken^[f] one, not a brawler^[g], but kind, non-quarrelsome^[h], not-a-money-lover, ⁴ leading his own household well^[i], having children in submission, with all dignity (⁵ but if one does not know-how to lead his own household, how will he take-care-of a church of God?), ⁶ not a new-convert, in order that he may not fall into the judgment of ^[j] the devil, having become conceited^[k]. ⁷ And he must also have a good testimony from the ones outside, in order that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

Deacons Must Be Honorable And Tested

⁸ Deacons similarly must be honorable^[l], not double-tongued^[m], not paying-attention-to^[n] much wine, not fond-of-shameful-gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. ¹⁰ And let these also first be tested, then let them be serving^[o], being blameless. ¹¹ Their wives^[p] similarly must be honorable, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons be men of one woman, leading their children and their own households well. ¹³ For the ones having served well obtain for themselves a good standing^[q] and great confidence^[r] in their^[s] faith in Christ Jesus.

I Am Writing So You Will Know How To Conduct Yourself In The Church

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you hoping to come to you quickly, ¹⁵ but in-case I am slow^[t], in order that you may know how you ought-to conduct-yourself ^[u] in the household of God— which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support^[v] of the truth.

God Was Revealed In The Flesh, But Some Will Depart From The Faith And Good Teaching

¹⁶ And the mystery of godliness is confessedly great: Who^[w] was revealed^[x] in the flesh, was declared-righteous^[y] in the spirit^[z]; was seen^[aa] by messengers^[ab], was proclaimed among the nations; was believed in the world, was taken-up in glory. 4 ¹ But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart^[ac] from the faith, paying-attention-to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars having been seared as to their own conscience— ³ forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods which God created for a receiving with thanksgiving by the ones who are believers and know^[ad] the truth. ⁴ Because every creature of God is good. And nothing being received with thanksgiving is to be rejected, ⁵ for it is sanctified^[ae] by the word of God and prayer. ⁶ While pointing-out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, while being nourished in the words of the faith and the good teaching which you have closely-followed. ⁷ But be declining^[af] the profane^[ag] and old-womanish myths.

But You Be Training Yourself For Godliness In Your Character And Teaching

But be training^[ah] yourself for godliness. ⁸ For bodily training is profitable for a little, but godliness is profitable for all things— having promise for the present life and the one coming. ⁹ The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For we are laboring and struggling^[ai] for this^[aj], because we have put our hope upon the living God, Who is the Savior of all people— especially of believers. ¹¹ Be commanding and teaching these things. ¹² Let no one be-looking-down-on^[ak] your youth, but be a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come^[al], be paying-attention-to the reading^[am], the exhortation, the teaching. ¹⁴ Do not be careless^[an] of the gift in you, which was given to you through a prophecy with the laying-on of the hands of the council-of-elders. ¹⁵ Be taking-care-with these things, be in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone. ¹⁶ Be fixing-your-attention-on yourself and your teaching. Be continuing in them. For while doing this, you will save both yourself and the ones hearing you.