1 Timothy 3
1 How true is this saying: “To aspire to be to be a supervisor in the church is to be ambitious for a noble task.”
Faithful is the saying, If any man aspires to supervision, he desires a good work.
2 The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,
The overseer therefore must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, serious minded, disciplined, loving strangers, able to teach,
3 not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
no drunkard, not a fighter, not greedy of base gain, but gentle, noncontentious, no lover of money,
4 they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved.
a man who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all propriety
5 If someone does not know how to provide for their own household, how can they take charge of the church of God?
(but if any man knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of a congregation of God?),
6 The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgement as the devil.
not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 They should also be well spoken of by outsiders, so that they may not incur censure and so fall into the devil’s trap.
And he must also have good testimony from those outside, lest he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
Helpers likewise, be honorable, not double-tongued, not attending to much wine, not greedy of base gain,
9 but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them.
And let these also first be proven, then being blameless, let them serve.
11 It should be the same with the women in this office. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.
The wives likewise, be honorable, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well.
Let helpers be husbands of one wife, ruling children and their own houses well.
13 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.
For those who serve well will acquire to themselves a good standing, and much boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long;
These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee sooner,
15 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.
but if I delay, that thou may know how it is necessary to live in a house of God, which is a congregation of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 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.”
And without controversy great is the mystery of piety. God was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by agents, proclaimed among nations, believed in the world, taken up in glory.
