1 Timothy 3
1 This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.
How true is this saying: “To aspire to be to be a supervisor in the church is to be ambitious for a noble task.”
2 A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,
The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,
3 Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,
not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
4 One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie.
they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved.
5 For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God?
If someone does not know how to provide for their own household, how can they take charge of the church of God?
6 He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.
The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgement as the devil.
7 He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.
They should also be well spoken of by outsiders, so that they may not incur censure and so fall into the devil’s trap.
8 Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,
So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
9 Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience.
but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience.
10 And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.
They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them.
11 Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things.
It should be the same with the women in this office. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.
12 Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.
Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well.
13 For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus.
Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honourable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee.
I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long;
15 But if I tary long, that thou maist yet know, how thou oughtest to behaue thy self in ye house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the pillar and ground of trueth.
but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the household of God, which is the church of the living God – the pillar and stay of the truth.
16 And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.
Yes, and undeniably wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for – “He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
