1 Timothy 3
1 This is a trustworthy statement: “If someone aspires to be an elder, this is a good work to want to do.”
This is a faithful saying, "If any man is seeking the office of a minister he is aspiring to a noble task."
2 An elder must be above reproach, married to one wife, self-controlled, well-balanced, sensible, hospitable, and able to teach.
The minister should be a man of blameless character; he should be husband of but one wife; he should live a sober, self-restrained, orderly life; he should be hospitable, skilled in teaching;
3 He should be someone who doesn't get drunk or become violent, but is gentle, and is not argumentative or greedy for money.
no drinker or brawler; but forbearing, peaceable, and no money- lover;
4 He must handle his own family well. His children must respect what he tells them to do.
he should be a man who rules his own household well, and keeps his children ever under control and thoroughly well behaved.
5 (For if a man doesn't know how to manage his own family, how can he manage God's church?)
For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he take charge of a church of God?
6 He should not be a new believer, in case he gets so full of himself he falls under the same condemnation as the devil.
He must not be a recent convert, lest he be blinded with pride, and incur the doom of the devil.
7 People outside the church should also speak well of him so that he won't disgrace himself and fall into the devil's trap.
He should also have a good reputation among outsiders, lest he fall into reproach, and into a snare of the devil.
8 Similarly deacons should be respected, and not hypocritical. They should not be addicted to drink, and should not be trying to dishonestly enrich themselves.
Deacons, likewise, must be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain,
9 They must stick to the revealed truth about God, trusting in him with a pure conscience.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 They should be tried out first, and if they can't be faulted then let them serve as deacons.
They should first be tested, and after that, if they are found irreproachable, let them serve as deacons.
11 Their wives should be respected too. They should not slander people with gossip, and they should be self-controlled and trustworthy in all they do.
Deaconesses likewise must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons should be married to one wife, managing their children and their homes well.
Let deacons be the husband of but one wife, men who rule their children and their household properly.
13 Those who serve well as deacons gain a good reputation and much confidence in their trust in Christ Jesus.
For those who have well discharged the duties of a deacon are gaining an honorable position for themselves, as well as much fearless confidence in the faith of Christ Jesus.
14 Even though I hope to see you soon, I'm writing about all this to you so that
Although I am hoping to come to you before long,
15 if I'm delayed you'll know how people should behave themselves in God's house. This is the church of the living God, the support pillar and foundation of the truth.
I am writing this to you in case I should be detained, to let you see how you ought to behave in the household of God - the Church of the everliving God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth.
16 There's no question about it: the revealed truth about God is amazing! He was made known to us in human form, he was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, declared to the nations, trusted in by the world, and taken up in glory!
Yes! without contradiction, great is the mystery of godliness!
