1 Timothy 3

Modern

Literal

Qualifications for Overseers

¹This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

¹Trustworthy is the word: If anyone aspires to overseership, he is desirous of a good work.

²An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife,^a temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

²Therefore it is necessary for the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, sound-minded, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

³not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

³not given to wine, not a striker but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money,

⁴An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.

⁴presiding over his own house well, having children in submission, with all dignity—

⁵For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

⁵but if anyone does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?—

⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

⁶not a novice, lest, having been puffed up, he might fall into the judgment of the devil.

⁷Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

⁷And it is necessary for him also to have a good testimony from those outside, so that he might not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy for shameful gain,

⁹They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

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

¹⁰Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

¹⁰And these also, let them be tested first; then let them serve, being blameless.

¹¹In the same way, the women^a must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

¹¹Women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹²A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

¹²Let deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding over their children and their own households well.

¹³For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹³For those having served well acquire a good standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things

¹⁴I write these things to you, hoping to come to you in quickness,

¹⁵in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

¹⁵but if I should delay, so that you may know how it is necessary to conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.

¹⁶By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared^a in the flesh,

was vindicated by the Spirit,^b

was seen by angels,

was proclaimed among the nations,

was believed in throughout the world,

was taken up in glory.

¹⁶And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who appeared in flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.