1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.2 Therefore an overseert must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,t sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,t not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.11 Their wives likewise mustt be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
Het was manifested in the flesh,
vindicatedt by the Spirit,t
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 3

1 This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseert, he desires a good work.2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;5 (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Servantst, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.10 Let them also first be tested; then let them servet if they are blameless.11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.12 Let servantst be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For those who have served wellt gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;15 but 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.

16 Without 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.