1 Timothy 3

1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

one that ruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall 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 novice, lest being puffed up 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.

Moreover he must have good testimony from them that 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,

Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

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 first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Let deacons be 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 they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee 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 tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground 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 without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory.