1 Timothy 3

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

Here is a trustworthy word: if a man aspires to the position of overseer, 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;

Now then, it is obligatory for the overseer to be above reproach, a one woman man, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching,

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

not a drinker, not a bully, not corrupt [financially], but gentle, peaceful, not greedy;

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

one who rules his own house well, having children who obey him with due respect

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

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how can he take care of God's congregation?);

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

not a recent convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same judgment that the devil did.

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

Also, it is necessary for him to have a good reputation with those who are outside the congregation, so as not to fall into reproach and the devil's snare.

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

Similarly, deacons must be respectable, not deceitful, not heavy drinkers, not corrupt [financially];

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

holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

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

But let these also first be tested; then, if they are blameless, let them serve as deacons.

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

Similarly, women must be respectable, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything.

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

Let deacons be one woman men, 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 Messiah Yeshua.

For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and considerable confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

Although I hope to come to you shortly, I am writing these things to you

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.

in case I am delayed, so that you may know how it is necessary to conduct oneself in God's household, which is the Church of the living God, pillar and foundation 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 amongst the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

Yes, the mystery of our religion is confessedly great: God was manifested in flesh, was vindicated in spirit, was revealed to angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed in the world, was received up in glory!