| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. | 1This saying is trustworthy: "If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work." |
| 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; | 2An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, |
| 3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; | 3not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy-- |
| 4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence | 4one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity. |
| 5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); | 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God's church?) |
| 6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. | 6He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. |
| 7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. | 7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil's trap. |
| 8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, | 8Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, |
| 9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. | 9holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. |
| 10But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. | 10And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. |
| 11Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. | 11Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. |
| 12Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. | 12Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. |
| 13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. | 13For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. |
| 14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; | 14I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. |
| 15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. | 15But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. |
| 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. | 16And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. |
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