< 1 Timothy 3 >

1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;
The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.
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,
The overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;
3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,
not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,
4 leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,
conducting his own house well, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (and if anyone has not known [how] to lead his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?)
(but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)
6 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;
not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into [the] fault of 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.
But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and [the] snare of the devil.
8 Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,
Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.
And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge [against them].
11 Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
[The] women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,
Let [the] ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting [their] children and their own houses well:
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 shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which [is] in Christ Jesus.
14 I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,
These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;
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,
but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is [the] assembly of [the] living God, [the] pillar and base 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!
And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in [the] Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among [the] nations, has been believed on in [the] world, has been received up in glory.

< 1 Timothy 3 >