1 Timothy 3
1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
This saying is trustworthy: If someone desires to be an overseer, he desires a good work.
2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
Therefore the overseer must be without reproach. He must be a husband of one wife. He must be moderate, sensible, orderly, and hospitable. He must be able to teach.
3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
He must not be addicted to wine, not a brawler, but instead, gentle, peaceful. He must not be a lover of money.
4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
He should manage his own household well, and his children should obey him with all respect.
5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for a church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
He should not be a new convert, so that he does not swell with pride and might fall into condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
Deacons, likewise, should be dignified, not double-talkers. They should not drink too much wine or be greedy.
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
They should keep the revealed truth of the faith with a clean conscience.
10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
They should also be approved first, then they should serve because they are blameless.
11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
Women in the same way should be dignified. They should not be slanderers. They should be moderate and faithful in all things.
12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Deacons must be husbands of one wife. They must manage well their children and household.
13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have served well acquire for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
I am writing these things to you, and I expect to come to you soon.
15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But if I delay, I am writing so that you may know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
It is undeniable that the revealed truth of godliness is great: “He appeared in the flesh, was justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up in glory.”
