1 Timothy 3
1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;
How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is 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 Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful 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,
he should be a man who rules his own household well, and whose children are kept under control and are 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 a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he 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 Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he may not be blinded by pride 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.
He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil.
8 Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,
So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
but men 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. 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,
Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule 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 honour gain for themselves an honourable 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 shall 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 confessedly 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.’
