1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (Ac 20:28; 1Ti 1:15)2Therefore an overseer[1] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[2] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1Ti 3:11; 1Ti 5:9; 2Ti 2:24; Tit 1:6; Tit 2:2; 1Pe 4:9)3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (1Ti 6:10; Tit 3:2; Heb 13:5)4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, (1Ti 3:12)5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? (1Ti 3:1)6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 3:4)7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (Mr 4:11; 1Ti 6:9; 2Ti 2:26)
Qualifications for Deacons
8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[3] not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. (Php 1:1; 1Ti 5:23; Tit 1:7; Tit 2:3; 1Pe 5:2)9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (Ac 23:1; 1Ti 1:19)10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. (1Ti 5:22)11Their wives likewise[4] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. (Tit 2:3; Tit 2:10)12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. (1Ti 3:2; 1Ti 3:4)13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (Mt 25:21)
The Mystery of Godliness
14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,15if 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.16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He[5] was manifested in the flesh, vindicated[6] by the Spirit,[7] seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (Lu 2:13; Lu 24:4; Joh 1:14; Ac 1:2; Ga 2:2; 2Th 1:10; 1Pe 1:20)
1 Timothy 3
King James Version
1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.