1 Timothy 3
1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
This is a true saying: If any desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
A bishop, then, must be blameless, the husband of one wife, watchful, soberminded, modest, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
not fond of wine, not quarrelsome, not one who makes money by base means; but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
one that rules his own house well; having his children in subjection with all gravity:
5 (for how could someone who does not know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
for if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
Not a new convert, lest, having become conceited, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Further, he must have a good reputation from those who are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
The deacons, likewise, must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not makers of money by base means,
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
And let these also be first proved, then let them become deacons, being blameless.
11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, faithful in all things.
12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have filled the office of a deacon well, gain for themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
