1 Timothy 3
1 A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
This is a true saying: If any desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,
A bishop, then, must be blameless, the husband of one wife, watchful, soberminded, modest, hospitable, able to teach,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but
not fond of wine, not quarrelsome, not one who makes money by base means; but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.
one that rules his own house well; having his children in subjection with all gravity:
5 But 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 knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?
6 Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.
Not a new convert, lest, having become conceited, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Further, he must have a good reputation from those who are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons in like manner chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:
The deacons, likewise, must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not makers of money by base means,
9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.
And let these also be first proved, then let them become deacons, being blameless.
11 The women in like manner chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children, and their own houses.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have filled the office of a deacon well, gain for themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall come to thee shortly.
I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
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, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.
And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
