1 Timothy 3

1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;

It is a faithful saying, If any one desires the episcopacy, he covets a beautiful 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,

Therefore it behooves the bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, modest, prudent, orderly, hospitable, competent to teach,

3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

not given to wine, not a controvertist; but gentle, peaceable, not a money lover;

4 leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,

ruling his own house beautifully; having children in subordination 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 any one does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?

6 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;

not a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the condemnation 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 also behooves him indeed to have a beautiful testimony from the aliens, in order that he may not fall 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,

Likewise let the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not fond of filthy lucre;

9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

having the testimony of faith in a pure conscience.

10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

And let them also first be proven; then let them minister the office of deacon, being irreproachable.

11 Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things.

12 Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses beautifully.

13 for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.

For those having ministered the office of a deacon beautifully procure to themselves beautiful progress, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,

I write these things to you, hoping to come to you more speedily;

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 tarry, in order that you may know how it behooves you to deport yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground 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 assuredly great is the mystery of godliness; Who is manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen of angels, was preached among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.