1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers

1 The saying is a trustworthy: If anyone aspires to b the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore c an overseer ▼
▼ Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
 must be above reproach e the husband of one wife ▼
▼ Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
 g sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable h hospitable i able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but j gentle, not quarrelsome k not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity l keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for m God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may n become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by o outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into p a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8  q Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued ▼
▼ Or devious in speech
 s not addicted to much wine t not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must u hold the mystery of the faith with v a clear conscience. 10 And w let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11  x Their wives likewise must ▼
▼ Or Wives, likewise, must, or Women, likewise, must
 be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded z faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be aa the husband of one wife, ab managing their children and their own households well. 13 For ac those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

ad He ▼
▼ Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
 was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated ▼
▼ Or justified
 by the Spirit ▼
▼ Or  vindicated in spirit

ah seen by angels,
ai proclaimed among the nations,
aj believed on in the world,
ak taken up in glory.
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