1 Timothy 3
1 This [is] a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
This saying is trustworthy: If someone desires to be an overseer, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Therefore the overseer must be without reproach. He must be a husband of one wife. He must be moderate, sensible, orderly, and hospitable. He must be able to teach.
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
He must not be addicted to wine, not a brawler, but instead, gentle, peaceful. He must not be a lover of money.
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
He should manage his own household well, and his children should obey him with all respect.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for a church of God?
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
He should not be a new convert, so that he does not swell with pride and might fall into condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
8 Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Deacons, likewise, should be dignified, not double-talkers. They should not drink too much wine or be greedy.
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
They should keep the revealed truth of the faith with a clean conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being [found] blameless.
They should also be approved first, then they should serve because they are blameless.
11 Even so [must their] wives [be] grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Women in the same way should be dignified. They should not be slanderers. They should be moderate and faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Deacons must be husbands of one wife. They must manage well their children and household.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have served well acquire for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
I am writing these things to you, and I expect to come to you soon.
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But if I delay, I am writing so that you may know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
It is undeniable that the revealed truth of godliness is great: “He appeared in the flesh, was justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up in glory.”
