1 Timothy 3
1 True is the saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
This saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, discreet, orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching;
Therefore the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to wine, not a striker, but forbearing, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for sordid gain, but gentle, not contentious, and not a lover of money.
4 presiding well over his own house, having his children in subjection with all propriety; —
He must lead his own household well, keeping his children in submission with all dignity.
5 for if a man knoweth not how to preside over his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God—
(For if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of God's church?)
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil;
He must not be a new convert, or he might become puffed up and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 moreover he must also have a good report from them that are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.
He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into the reproach and snare of the devil.
8 Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain,
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, and not greedy for sordid gain.
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they are without reproach.
They must first be tested; if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.
11 The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded and faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
A deacon must be the husband of one wife and must lead his children and his own household well.
13 For they that have served well as deacons, gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have served well as deacons obtain a good standing for themselves along with great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly;
I am writing these things to yoʋ, hoping to come to yoʋ soon.
15 but if I should tarry long, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
But if I delay, I am writing so that yoʋ may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness, in him who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Beyond all question, great is the mystery of godliness: God was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.
