1 Timothy 3
1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;
This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 it is required, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, a husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, respectable, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
4 leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,
An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.
5 (and if anyone has not known [how] to lead his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?)
For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
7 and it is required of him also to have a good testimony from those outside, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil.
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.
8 Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.
Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
11 Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.
12 Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.
13 for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.
For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
15 and if I delay, that you may know how it is required to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God—a pillar and foundation of the truth,
in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 and confessedly, great is the secret of piety: who was revealed in flesh, declared righteous in [the] Spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
