Palabra fiel esesta^a: Si alguno aspira al cargo de obispo^1b, buena obra desea hacer. 2 Un¹ obispo^a debe ser, pues, irreprochable, marido de una sola mujer^b, sobrio^c, prudente, de conducta decorosa, hospitalario^d, apto para enseñar^e, 3 no dado a la bebida^1a, no pendenciero, sino amable, no contencioso, no avaricioso^b. 4 Que gobierne bien su casa^a, teniendo a sus hijos sujetos con toda dignidad 5 (pues si un hombre no sabe cómo gobernar su propia casa, ¿cómo podrá cuidar de la iglesia de Dios^a?); 6 no un recién convertido, no sea que se envanezca^a y caiga en la condenación en que cayó el¹ diablo^b. 7 Debe gozar también de¹ una buena reputación^a entre los de afuera de la iglesia^b, para que no caiga en descrédito y en el lazo del diablo^c.

8 De la misma manera, también los diáconos^a deben ser dignos, de una sola palabra¹, no dados al mucho vino^b, ni amantes de ganancias deshonestas^c, 9 sino guardando el misterio de la fe^a con limpia conciencia. 10 Que tambiénestos sean sometidos a prueba primero^a, y si son irreprensibles, que entonces sirvan como diáconos. 11 De igual manera, las mujeres¹ deben ser dignas, no calumniadoras^a, sino sobrias^b, fieles en todo. 12 Que los diáconos^a sean maridos^b de una sola mujer, y que gobiernen bien^1c sus hijos y sus propias casas. 13 Pues los que han servido bien como diáconos^a obtienen para sí una posición honrosa¹ y gran confianza en la fe que es en Cristo Jesús.

14 Te escribo estas cosas, esperando ir a ti pronto, 15 pero en caso que me tarde¹, te escribo para que sepas cómo debe conducirse uno² en la casa de Dios^a, que es la iglesia^b del Dios vivo^c, columna^d y sostén de la verdad. 16 E indiscutiblemente¹, grande es el misterio^a de la piedad:Él² fue manifestado en la carne^b,vindicado^3c en⁴ el Espíritu,contemplado por ángeles^d,proclamado entre las naciones^e,creído en el mundo^f,recibido arriba en gloria^g.

^aThis is a faithful and trustworthy saying: if any man eagerly seeks the ^boffice of ¹overseer (bishop, superintendent) , he desires an excellent task. 2 Now ^aan overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, ^bthe husband of one wife, ^cself-controlled, sensible, respectable, ^dhospitable, ^eable to teach, 3 ^anot addicted to wine, not ¹a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, ^bfree from the love of money not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical. 4 He must ^amanage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity keeping them respectful and well-behaved 5 (for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of ^athe church of God?). 6 and he must not be a new convert, so that he will not behave stupidly and become ^aconceited by appointment to this high office and fall into the same ^bcondemnation incurred by the devil for his arrogance and pride. Is 14:12-14 7 And he must ^ahave a good reputation and be well thought of by ^bthose outside the church, so that he will not be discredited and fall into ^cthe devil’s trap.

8 ^1aDeacons likewise must be men worthy of respect honorable, financially ethical, of good character, not double-tongued speakers of half-truths, ^bnot addicted to wine, ^cnot greedy for dishonest gain, 9 but ^aupholding and fully understanding the mystery that is, the true doctrine of the Christian faith with a clear conscience resulting from behavior consistent with spiritual maturity. 10 ^aThese men must first be tested; then if they are found to be blameless and beyond reproach in their Christian lives, let them serve as deacons. 11 ¹Women must likewise be worthy of respect, ^anot malicious gossips, but ^bself-controlled, thoroughly trustworthy in all things. 12 ^aDeacons must be ^bhusbands of only one wife, and ^cgood managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons ^again a high standing having a good reputation among the congregation, and great confidence in the faith which is founded on and centered in Christ Jesus.

14 I hope to come to you before long, but I am writing these instructions to you 15 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in ^athe household of God, which is the ^bchurch of ^cthe living God, the ^dpillar and foundation of the truth. 16 And great, we confess, is ^athe mystery the hidden truth of godliness:He (Jesus Christ) who was ^brevealed in human flesh,Was ^cjustified and vindicated in the Spirit,^dSeen by angels,^ePreached among the nations,^fBelieved on in the world,^gTaken up in glory.