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Overseers and Deacons

(A)It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, he desires a good work. [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, (E)temperate, sensible, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, (H)not addicted to wine [c]or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, (I)free from the love of money; (J)leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into the (M)condemnation of the devil. And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and (P)the snare of the devil.

(Q)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not [d]double-tongued, (R)not indulging in much wine, (S)not fond of dishonest gain, (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 (U)And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 [e]Women must likewise be dignified, (V)not malicious gossips, but (W)temperate, faithful in all things. 12 (X)Deacons must be (Y)husbands of only one wife, (Z)leading their children and their own households well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (AA)obtain for themselves a [f]high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, 15 but [g]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how [h]one ought to conduct himself in (AB)the household of God, which is the (AC)church of (AD)the living God, the (AE)pillar and support of the truth. 16 And by common confession, great is (AF)the mystery of godliness:

He who was (AG)manifested in the flesh,
Was [i](AH)vindicated [j]in the Spirit,
(AI)Seen by angels,
(AJ)Proclaimed among the nations,
(AK)Believed on in the world,
(AL)Taken up in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Or bishop
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Lit The
  3. 1 Timothy 3:3 Lit not
  4. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or given to double-talk
  5. 1 Timothy 3:11 Either deacons’ wives or deaconesses
  6. 1 Timothy 3:13 Lit good
  7. 1 Timothy 3:15 Lit if I delay
  8. 1 Timothy 3:15 Or you ought to conduct yourself
  9. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
  10. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or by

Dette budskap om frelse er sant.

Ledere i menigheten

Den som vil bli leder i en menighet, påtar seg en viktig oppgave. Derfor må det ikke finnes noe å sette fingeren på hos den som er leder. Han skal være trofast i ekteskapet, sunn, beherske seg selv og være korrekt i sin opptreden. Han skal være gjestfri og kunne undervise. Han må ikke misbruke alkohol eller være voldelig, men være mild og vennlig og ikke stelle i stand bråk. Han må heller ikke elske penger. Han må kunne styre sin egen familie og oppdra barna sine slik at de er lydige og viser respekt. Dersom han ikke kan styre sin egen familie, hvordan skal han da kunne styre Guds menighet? Velg ikke en som nylig er blitt frelst, for da kan han bli hovmodig over å bli leder så fort, og han kan få samme dommen som djevelen en gang fikk.[a] Han skal ha et godt rykte blant folk utenfor menigheten, slik at han ikke blir hånet, og djevelen utnytter anledningen til å få ham til å synde.

På samme måten skal medarbeiderne i menigheten være ærlige og fortjene respekt. De må ikke drikke mye alkohol og ikke elske penger. De må holde fast ved de sannhetene som Gud har vist oss om troen. Videre må de ha rene motiv for alt de gjør. 10 Før de får begynne som medarbeidere, skal de bli vurdert. Dersom ingen har noe å kritisere dem for, da kan de begynne tjenesten sin.

11 På samme måten skal de kvinnelige medarbeiderne[b] ha respekt. De må ikke snakke dårlig om andre, men være sunne og pålitelige i alt de gjør.

12 En medarbeider må være trofast i ekteskapet og kunne styre barna og hjemmet sitt på en god måte. 13 De som skjøtter tjenestene sin godt som medarbeidere, vil bli respektert av andre og kan uten skam fortelle om sin tro på Jesus Kristus.

Sannheten om troen

14-15 Jeg håper snart å kunne reise til deg, Timoteus. Om jeg likevel må vente, har jeg nå gitt deg noen retningslinjer for hvordan tingene skal være ordnet i Guds husholdning, menigheten, den som tilhører den levende Gud. Menigheten er den grunnpilar og sikre fundament som holder sannheten om Jesus oppe.

16 Alle må erkjenne at troen gjør en fantastisk hemmelighet kjent:

Gud kom til jorden som menneske.
    Guds Ånd viste at han var uten synd,
han ble sett av engler.
    Budskapet om ham spredde seg til jordens folk,
menneskene trodde på ham.
    Han vendte tilbake til himmelen igjen.

Footnotes

  1. 3:6 Eller: og da får djevelen han til å falle.
  2. 3:11 Eller: medhjelpernes koner.

Qualifications of Overseers

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a [a]bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a [e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the (A)snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, (B)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the [f]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not [g]slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons (C)obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and [h]ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the [i]mystery of godliness:

(D)God[j] was manifested in the flesh,
(E)Justified in the Spirit,
(F)Seen by angels,
(G)Preached among the Gentiles,
(H)Believed on in the world,
(I)Received up in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:1 Lit. overseer
  2. 1 Timothy 3:3 addicted
  3. 1 Timothy 3:3 NU omits not greedy for money
  4. 1 Timothy 3:3 loving money
  5. 1 Timothy 3:6 new convert
  6. 1 Timothy 3:9 hidden truth
  7. 1 Timothy 3:11 malicious gossips
  8. 1 Timothy 3:15 foundation, mainstay
  9. 1 Timothy 3:16 hidden truth
  10. 1 Timothy 3:16 NU Who

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For 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.

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

15 But 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.

16 And 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.