1 Timothy 3:10

Amplified Bible

These 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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

King James Version (1611)
And let these also first be proued; then let them vse the office of a Deacon, being found blamelesse.

King James Version
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

English Standard Version
And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

New American Standard Bible
These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

New Century Version
Test them first. Then let them serve as deacons if you find nothing wrong in them.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

Legacy Standard Bible
And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

Berean Standard Bible
Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

Contemporary English Version
They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.

Complete Jewish Bible
And first, let them be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them be appointed shammashim.

Darby Translation
And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge [against them].

Easy-to-Read Version
You should test them first. Then, if you find that they have done nothing wrong, they can be special servants.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.

George Lamsa Translation
Let these first be examined, and then let them minister after they have been found blameless.

Good News Translation
They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve.

Lexham English Bible
and these also must be tested first; then let them serve if they are above reproach.

Literal Translation
And also let these be tested first, then let them serve, being without reproach.

American Standard Version
And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

Bible in Basic English
And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them.

Hebrew Names Version
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as shammashim, if they are blameless.

International Standard Version
But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become deacons.

Etheridge Translation
And these are to be proved first, and then to minister, being without blame.

Murdock Translation
And let them be first tried, and then let them serve, if they are without blame.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And let them first be proued, then let them minister, beyng blamelesse.

English Revised Version
And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

World English Bible
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blameless.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
then let them minister, being found blameless.

Weymouth's New Testament
And they must also be well-tried men, and when found to be of unblemished character then let them serve as deacons.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But be thei preued first, and mynystre so, hauynge no cryme.

Update Bible Version
And let these also first be proved; then let them serve, if they are blameless.

Webster's Bible Translation
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless.

New English Translation
And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.

New King James Version
But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

New Living Translation
Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

New Life Bible
They must first be tested to see if they are ready for the work as church helpers. Then if they do well, they may be chosen as church helpers.

New Revised Standard
And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But let, these also, be proved first, then, let them be ministering, being, unaccusable:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.

Revised Standard Version
And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And let them fyrst be proved and then let them minister yf they be founde fautlesse.

Young's Literal Translation
and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And let them first be proued, and then let them mynister, yf they be blamelesse.

Mace New Testament (1729)
let them be first examin'd, and if they are without reproach, let them enter upon their office.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Only choose those who have proven they can ride the rough string and make hard decisions. If they practice what they preach, then let them be a jigger boss.

Contextual Overview

⁸Deacons likewise must be men worthy of respect [honorable, financially ethical, of good character], not double-tongued [speakers of half-truths], not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain, ⁹but upholding 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]. ¹⁰These 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.¹¹Women must likewise be worthy of respect, not malicious gossips, but self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things. ¹²Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. ¹³For those who have served well as deacons gain 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

let these: 1 Timothy 3:6, 1 Timothy 5:22, 1 John 4:1

use: 1 Timothy 3:13, Acts 6:1, Acts 6:2

being: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Corinthians 1:8, Colossians 1:22, Titus 1:6, Titus 1:7

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 13:13 - counted Acts 6:3 - honest Romans 16:10 - approved Philippians 1:1 - and deacons Philippians 2:15 - blameless

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.

Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Genesis 3:17
Then to Adam the LORD God said, "Because you have listened [attentively] to the voice of your wife, and have eaten [fruit] from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it'; The ground is [now] under a curse because of you; In sorrow and toil you shall eat [the fruit] of it All the days of your life.

Genesis 3:18
"Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field.

Exodus 3:6
Then He said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 32:25
Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of mockery among their enemies—

Job 23:15
"Therefore I would be terrified at His presence; When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.

Psalms 119:120
My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You, And I am afraid and in awe of Your judgments.

Isaiah 33:14
The sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. [They cry] "Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?"

Isaiah 47:3
"Your nakedness will be uncovered, Your shame will also be exposed; I will take vengeance and will spare no man."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And let these also first be proved,.... Not that they should be tried in any part of the deacon's office, to see how capable they are of performing it; but their internal and external characters are to be looked into and examined, and if they appear, to be right, then they are to be approved of, chosen and called unto, and invested with the office:

then let them use the office of a deacon; let them be employed and minister in the several parts and branches of that office:

being found blameless; not without sin, but free from any gross and enormous one; not before God, but in the sight of men;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And let these also first be proved - That is, tried or tested in regard to the things which were the proper qualifications for the office. This does not mean that they were to be employed as “preachers,” but that they were to undergo a proper trial in regard to their fitness for the office which they were to fill. They were not to be put into it without any opportunity of knowing what they were. It should be ascertained that they were grave, serious, temperate, trustworthy men; men who were sound in the faith, and who would not dishonor the office. It is not said here that there should be a “formal” trial, as if they were candidates for this office; but the meaning is, that they should have had an opportunity of making their character known, and should have gained such respect for their piety, and their other qualifications, that there would be reason to believe that they would perform the functions of the office well. Thus, in Acts 6:3, when deacons were first appointed, the church was directed to “look out seven men of honest report,” who might be appointed to the office.

Then let them use the office of a deacon - Let them be appointed to this office, and fulfil its duties.

Being found blameless - If nothing can be alleged against their character see the notes on 1 Timothy 3:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. Let these - be proved — Let them not be young converts, or persons lately brought to the knowledge of the truth. This is the same in spirit with what is required of the bishops, 1 Timothy 3:6.

Let no man be put into an office in the Church till he has given full proof of his sincerity and steadiness, by having been for a considerable time a consistent private member of the Church.

Being found blameless. — ανεγκλητοι οντες. Being irreproachable; persons against whom no evil can be proved. The same as in 1 Timothy 3:2, though a different word is used. See the note there.