1 Timothy 3

1 This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

3 not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4 An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.

4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of 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.

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

9 They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

11 In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things

14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

15 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

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.

16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.

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.