1 Timothy 3
1 This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a good work.
This saying is true. If one earnestly seek the office of a bishop, he desires an excellent work.
2 The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching;
The bishop, then, must be unblamed, the husband of one wife, vigilant, prudent, of comely behavior, hospitable, fit to teach;
3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
not given to wine, no striker, but gentle; not quarrelsome, nor a lover of money:
4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
one who rules well his own house, having his children in subjection to him with all gravity:
5 (but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
for if one know not how to govern his own house; how shall he take care of the congregation of God?
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
Not a new convert, lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
Moreover, he must even have a good report from those without, that he may not fall into reproach, and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;
The deacons, in like manner, must be grave, not double-tongued, not giving themselves to much wine, not persons who earn money by base methods;
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
holding fast the secret of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless.
But let those also be first proved: then let them exercise the office of the deacon, being without blame.
11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
The women, in like manner, must be grave, not slanderers; but vigilant, faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their families.
13 For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For they who have performed the office of a deacon well, procure to themselves an excellent degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you soon.
15 but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But if I tarry long, that you may know you ought to behave yourselves in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.--
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
And, confessedly, great is the secret of godliness; --he who has manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit; seen of messengers, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
