1 Timothy 3
1 Stedfast [is] the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;
This is a true saying: If any desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,
A bishop, then, must be blameless, the husband of one wife, watchful, soberminded, modest, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,
not fond of wine, not quarrelsome, not one who makes money by base means; but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;
4 his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,
one that rules his own house well; having his children in subjection with all gravity:
5 (and if any one his own house [how] to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)
for if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;
Not a new convert, lest, having become conceited, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.
Further, he must have a good reputation from those who are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Ministrants — in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,
The deacons, likewise, must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not makers of money by base means,
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.
And let these also be first proved, then let them become deacons, being blameless.
11 Women — in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, faithful in all things.
12 Ministrants — let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.
For those who have filled the office of a deacon well, gain for themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,
I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15 and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth [thee] to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God — a pillar and foundation of the truth,
but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety — God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!
And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
