1 Timothy 3

1 Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.2 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3 no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5 (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)6 not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.7 Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8 Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.10 And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.11 Women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.13 For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;15 but 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.16 And 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.

1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

1 This sayingt is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer,t he desires a good work.”2 The overseerts then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,t temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.t5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogantt and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.t

7 And he must be well thought of byt those outside the faith,t so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.t
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified,t not two-faced,t not given to excessive drinking,t not greedy for gain,9 holding to the mystery of the faiths with a clear conscience.10 And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.11 Likewise also their wivest must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.12 Deacons must be husbands of one wifet and good managers of their children and their own households.

13 For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselvess and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.s

Conduct in God’s Church

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructionsts to you15 in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselvest in the household of God, because it ist the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth.

16 And we all agree,t our religion contains amazing revelation:t
Hests was revealed in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,t
seen by angels,
proclaimed among Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.