1 Timothy 3
1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;
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 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 supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skillful teacher,
3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,
not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
4 leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,
they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved.
5 (and if anyone has not known [how] to lead his own house, how will he take care of an assembly 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 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;
The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgment 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.
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 Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,
So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience.
10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.
They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them.
11 Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful 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 Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,
Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well.
13 for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.
Those who have filled that post with honor gain for themselves an honorable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.
14 I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,
I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long;
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 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 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!
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.’
