1 Timothy 3

1The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

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

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

2The overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;

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

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;

3not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

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

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

4conducting his own house well, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;

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

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

5(but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly ofGod?)

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

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

6not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into [the] fault of the devil.

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

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.

7But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and [the] snare of the devil.

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

8Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

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

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;

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

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

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

10And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge [against them].

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

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

11[The] women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

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

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

12Let [the] ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting [their] children and their own houses well:

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

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

13for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in 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 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.

14These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;

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

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

15but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself inGod's house, which is [the] assembly of [the] livingGod, [the] pillar and base of the truth.

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 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.

16And confessedly the mystery of piety is great.God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in [the] Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among [the] nations, has been believed on in [the] world, has been received 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 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.