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1. It is a true statement that anyone whose goal is to serve as an elder has his heart set on a good work.
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1. This is a true G4103 saying G3056 , If a man G1536 desire G3713 the office of a bishop G1984 , he desireth G1937 a good G2570 work G2041 .
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2. An elder must be such a good man that no one can rightly criticize him. He must be faithful to his wife. He must have self-control and be wise. He must be respected by others. He must be ready to help people by welcoming them into his home. He must be a good teacher.
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2. A bishop G1985 then G3767 must G1163 be G1511 blameless G423 , the husband G435 of one G3391 wife G1135 , vigilant G3524 , sober G4998 , of good behavior G2887 , given to hospitality G5382 , apt to teach G1317 ;
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3. He must not drink too much, and he must not be someone who likes to fight. He must be gentle and peaceful. He must not be someone who loves money.
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3. Not G3361 given to wine G3943 , no G3361 striker G4131 , not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre G146 ; but G235 patient G1933 , not a brawler G269 , not covetous G866 ;
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4. He must be a good leader of his own family. This means that his children obey him with full respect.
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4. One that ruleth G4291 well G2573 his own G2398 house G3624 , having G2192 his children G5043 in G1722 subjection G5292 with G3326 all G3956 gravity G4587 ;
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5. (If a man does not know how to lead his own family, he will not be able to take care of God's church. )
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5. ( For G1161 if G1487 a man G5100 know G1492 not G3756 how to rule G4291 his own G2398 house G3624 , how G4459 shall he take care of G1959 the church G1577 of God G2316 ?)
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6. An elder must not be a new believer. It might make him too proud of himself. Then he would be condemned for his pride the same as the devil was.
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6. Not G3361 a novice G3504 , lest G3363 being lifted up with pride G5187 he fall G1706 into G1519 the condemnation G2917 of the G3588 devil G1228 .
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7. An elder must also have the respect of people who are not part of the church. Then he will not be criticized by others and be caught in the devil's trap.
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7. Moreover G1161 he G846 must G1163 G2532 have G2192 a good G2570 report G3141 of G575 them which are without G1855 ; lest G3363 he fall G1706 into G1519 reproach G3680 and G2532 the snare G3803 of the G3588 devil G1228 .
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8. In the same way, the men who are chosen to be special servants must have the respect of others. They must not be men who say things they don't mean or who spend their time drinking too much. They must not be men who will do almost anything for money.
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8. Likewise G5615 must the deacons G1249 be grave G4586 , not G3361 doubletongued G1351 , not G3361 given G4337 to much G4183 wine G3631 , not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre G146 ;
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9. They must follow the true faith that God has now made known to us and always do what they know is right.
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9. Holding G2192 the G3588 mystery G3466 of the G3588 faith G4102 in G1722 a pure G2513 conscience G4893 .
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10. You should test them first. Then, if you find that they have done nothing wrong, they can be special servants.
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10. And G2532 let these G3778 also G1161 first G4412 be proved G1381 ; then G1534 let them use the office of a deacon G1247 , being G5607 found blameless G410 .
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11. In the same way, the women must have the respect of others. They must not be women who speak evil about other people. They must have self-control and be women who can be trusted in everything.
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11. Even so G5615 must their wives G1135 be grave G4586 , not G3361 slanderers G1228 , sober G3524 , faithful G4103 in G1722 all things G3956 .
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12. The men who are special servants must be faithful in marriage. They must be good leaders of children and their own families.
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12. Let the deacons G1249 be G2077 the husbands G435 of one G3391 wife G1135 , ruling G4291 their children G5043 and G2532 their own G2398 houses G3624 well G2573 .
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13. Those who do well as special servants are making an honorable place for themselves. And they will feel very sure of their faith in Christ Jesus.
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13. For G1063 they that have used the office of a deacon G1247 well G2573 purchase G4046 to themselves G1438 a good G2570 degree G898 , and G2532 great G4183 boldness G3954 in G1722 the faith G4102 which G3588 is in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 .
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14. I hope I can come to you soon. But I am writing this to you now,
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14. These things G5023 write G1125 I unto thee G4671 , hoping G1679 to come G2064 unto G4314 thee G4571 shortly G5032 :
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15. so that, even if I cannot come soon, you will know how people should live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God. And God's church is the support and foundation of the truth.
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15. But G1161 if G1437 I tarry long G1019 , that G2443 thou mayest know G1492 how G4459 thou oughtest G1163 to behave thyself G390 in G1722 the house G3624 of God G2316 , which G3748 is G2076 the church G1577 of the living G2198 God G2316 , the pillar G4769 and G2532 ground G1477 of the G3588 truth G225 .
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16. Without a doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great: Christ was shown to us in human form; the Spirit proved that he was right; he was seen by angels. The message about him was told to the nations; people in the world believed in him; he was taken up to heaven in glory.
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16. And G2532 without controversy G3672 great G3173 is G2076 the G3588 mystery G3466 of godliness G2150 : God G2316 was manifest G5319 in G1722 the flesh G4561 , justified G1344 in G1722 the Spirit G4151 , seen G3700 of angels G32 , preached G2784 unto G1722 the Gentiles G1484 , believed on G4100 in G1722 the world G2889 , received up G353 into G1722 glory G1391 .
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