1 Timothy 3

1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.WEBThis is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;WEBThe overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;WEBnot a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;WEBone who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)WEB(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.WEBnot a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.WEBMoreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;WEBServants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.WEBholding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.WEBLet them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.WEBTheir wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

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

13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.WEBFor those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:WEBThese things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.WEBbut 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.

16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.WEBWithout 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.