1This is a sure word: if a man aspires to the office of overseer2061, he desires a good work. 2The overseer must be irreproachable, a husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, modest, hospitable and a good teacher. 3He must not be a drinker, or someone violent or greedy for money.2062 He should be gentle, not irritable or envious. 4He should be someone who rules his own house well, keeping his [own] children in subjection with all reverence. 5(Indeed, if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how can he take care of the Church of God?) 6He should not be a new convert, for fear that being puffed up with pride he may fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7Moreover, he must have good testimony from those who are outside in order to avoid falling into [public] blame and the snare of the devil.
8Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine and not greedy for money. 9They should keep the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10Let them also be tested first; then let them serve2063 if they are blameless. 11Likewise, their wives2064 must be reverent, not slanderers but self-controlled and faithful in all things. 12Deacons should be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13Those who have served well2065 earn for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The mystery of godliness—The pillar and foundation of the truth
14I write to you these things, hoping to come to you shortly. 15If I am delayed, I want you to know how the people should behave in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Without a doubt, great is the mystery of godliness:
God2066 was revealed in the flesh,
vindicated in [the] spirit,2067
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
and received up in glory.
Doctrines of demons—False asceticism
- Or “bishop”
- Or “dishonest gain.” CT omits this clause.
- Or “serve as deacons”
- Literally “the women/the wives” as a possible reference to “deaconesses,” noting the fact that St. Paul has no requirements for the wife of the episkopos. However, this is unlikely in the context of the following verse.
- Or “served well as deacons”
- CT reads “He was revealed in the flesh…” PT reads “God.” Original reading is debated.
- Or possibly “entered the divine sphere in spirit” or “was vindicated in the spiritual realm”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
