1 Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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,

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.

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!

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.