1 Timothy 3:5,12 - Compare All Versions

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(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

(for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)

Deacons must be husbands of one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

(for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?).

Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?

Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.