1 Timothy 3

1This is a true saying, A man desiring the position of a Bishop has a desire for a good work.

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

1Stedfast <FI>is<Fi> the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

2The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher;

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

2it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

3Not quickly moved to wrath or blows, but gentle; no fighter, no lover of money;

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

3not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

4Ruling his house well, having his children under control with all serious behaviour;

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

4his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

5(For if a man has not the art of ruling his house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

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

5(and if any one his own house <FI>how<Fi> to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

6Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One.

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

6not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

7And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One.

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

7and 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.

8Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world;

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

8Ministrants--in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

9Keeping the secret of the faith in a heart free from sin.

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

9having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

10And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them.

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

10and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

11Women are to be serious in behaviour, saying no evil of others, controlling themselves, true in all things.

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

11Women--in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

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

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

12Ministrants--let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

13For those who have done good work as Deacons get for themselves a good position and become free from fear in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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.

13for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that <FI>is<Fi> in Christ Jesus.

14I am writing these things to you, though I am hoping to come to you before long;

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

14These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

15But if I am long in coming, this will make clear to you what behaviour is right for men in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of what is true.

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.

15and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth <FI>thee<Fi> to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God--a pillar and foundation of the truth,

16And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.

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.

16and, 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!