1 Timothy 3

1 This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.

If anyone, for oversight, is eager, a noble work, doth he covet: —

2 The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching;

It is needful, then, for, the overseer, to be irreproachable, a husband, of one wife, sober, of sound mind, orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching,

3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;

Not given to wine, not ready to wound, but considerate, averse to contention, not fond of money,

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

Over his own house, presiding, well, having, children, in submission, with all dignity;

5 (but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

Whereas, if anyone, over his own house, cannot, preside, how, of an assembly of God, shall he take care?

6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Not a new convert, lest, being beclouded, into the sentence of the adversary, he fall;

7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

It is needful, moreover, to have, an honourable testimony also, from them who are without, lest, into reproach, he fall, and the snare of the adversary.

8 Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;

Ministers, in the same way, —dignified, not double-tongued, not, to much wine, given, not greedy of base gain,

9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Holding the sacred secret of the faith in a pure conscience;

10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless.

But let, these also, be proved first, then, let them be ministering, being, unaccusable:

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

Wives, in the same way, —dignified, not given to intrigue, sober, faithful in all things.

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

Let, ministers, be husbands of, one wife, over children, presiding, well, and over their own houses;

13 For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

For, they who have ministered well, a good degree for themselves, are acquiring, and great freedom of speech in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

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

These things, unto thee, I am writing, hoping to come [unto thee] shortly, —

15 but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

But, if I should tarry, that thou mayest know—how it behoveth, in a house of God, to behave oneself, —the which, is an assembly of a Living God, a pillar and basement of the truth; —

16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

And, confessedly great, is the sacred secret of godliness, —Who was made manifest in flesh, was declared righteous in spirit, was made visible unto messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.