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Contemporary English Version

1 Timothy 3:10

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Commandments;   Deacon;   Diligence;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Leaders;   Life;   Ministers;   Probation;   Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Deacons;   Drunkenness;   Sobriety;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Deacon;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Testing;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Blameless;   Church, the;   Ministry, Minister;   Servant, Service;   Timothy, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Deacon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Minister;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Deacon;   Offices in the New Testament;   1 Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Church Government;   Deacon;   Minister;   Ministry;   Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apelles ;   Deacon, Deaconess;   Minister Ministry;   Temptation, Trial;   Timothy and Titus Epistles to;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Deacon,;   46 Blameless Unblameable Unreproveable without Spot;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Deacon;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bishop;   Church;   Church Government;   Deacon;   Office;   Spiritual Gifts;   Woman;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 1;  

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.
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.
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.
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

8 Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. 9 And they must have a clear conscience and hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith. 10 They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers. 11 Women must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do. 12 Church officers must be faithful in marriage. They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home. 13 Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith 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
Although the man and his wife were both naked, they were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:7
Right away they saw what they had done, and they realized they were naked. Then they sewed fig leaves together to make something to cover themselves.
Genesis 3:17
The Lord said to the man, "You listened to your wife and ate fruit from that tree. And so, the ground will be under a curse because of what you did. As long as you live, you will have to struggle to grow enough food.
Genesis 3:18
Your food will be plants, but the ground will produce thorns and thistles.
Exodus 3:6
I am the God who was worshiped by your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Moses was afraid to look at God, and so he hid his face.
Exodus 32:25
Moses knew that the people were out of control and that it was Aaron's fault. And now they had made fools of themselves in front of their enemies.
Job 23:15
Merely the thought of God All-Powerful
Psalms 119:120
I tremble all over when I think of you and the way you judge.
Isaiah 33:14
Those terrible sinners on Mount Zion tremble as they ask in fear, "How can we possibly live where a raging fire never stops burning?"
Isaiah 47:3
You will suffer the shame of going naked, because I will take revenge, and no one can escape.

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.


 
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