1 Timothy 3

1Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1This is a trustworthy saying: If someone wants to be a church leader, he desires an honorable work.

2The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

2A church leader must be a person of good character who cannot be criticized. He must be faithful to his wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, welcoming to guests, and able to teach.

3no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

3He must not be a heavy drinker or violent, but instead gentle and peaceful. He must not be someone who loves money.

4one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

4He must manage his own family well and make sure his children obey him with proper respect.

5(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

5For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?

6not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

6He must not be a new believer, or he might become proud and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

7Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

8Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

8In the same way, deacons must be respected and man of their word. They must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money.

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

9They must hold on to the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

10And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

10They should be tested first; then, if they are found to be blameless, let them serve as deacons.

11Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

11In the same way, the women must be respected and not gossip. They must be self-controlled and faithful in everything they do.

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

12A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

13For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

13Those who serve well as deacons earn a place of respect and gain great confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

14I am writing these instructions to you now, even though I hope to come and see you soon.

15but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

15But if I am delayed, I want you to know how people should live in God’s household. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

16There is no doubt that the secret of our faith is great: Christ was revealed in a human body, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, announced to the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up into heaven in glory.