1 Timothy 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹¹In the same way, [the] women [must be] dignified, not slanderers, [but] temperate [and] 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.

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.

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

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.

¹⁶By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: [He] appeared in [the] flesh, was vindicated by [the] Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among [the] nations, was believed in throughout [the] world, was taken up in glory.