The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;

it is required, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, a husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, respectable, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,

(and if anyone has not known [how] to lead his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?)

not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;

and it is required of him also to have a good testimony from those outside, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,

having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,

for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,

and if I delay, that you may know how it is required to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God—a pillar and foundation of the truth,

and confessedly, great is the secret of piety: who was revealed in flesh, declared righteous in [the] Spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer

(a)

desires a good work.

The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Servants,(b) in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve

(c)

if they are blameless.

Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

Let servants

(d)

be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

For those who have served well

(e)

gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

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.

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God

(f)

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.

Footnotes

(a)3:1 or, superintendent, or bishop

(b)3:8 or, Deacons.

(d)3:12 or, deacons

(e)3:13 or, served well as deacons

(f)3:16 NU replaces “God” with “who”