1 Timothy 3

Qualifications of Overseers

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

1 TIMOTHY 3

Church Officials

1 It is true thatt anyone who desires to be a church officialt wants to be something worthwhile. 2 t That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.t They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach.

3 They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.
4 Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful.

5 If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?
6 They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil.

7 Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.

Church Officers

10 They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.

11 Woment must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do.
12 Church officers must be faithful in marriage.t They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home.

13 Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery //of Our Religion

15 so if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.

16 Here is the great mystery of our religion:
Christt came as a human.
The Spirit proved
that he pleased God,
and he was seen by angels.
Christ was preached
to the nations.
People in this world
put their faith in him,
and he was taken up to glory.