1 Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 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.

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

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

Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

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

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

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

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

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

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

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

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

13 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.

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

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

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

15 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; —

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.

16 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.

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