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1 Timothy 3
New International Version

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer(B) desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach,(C) faithful to his wife,(D) temperate,(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,(F) able to teach,(G) 3 not given to drunkenness,(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,(I) not a lover of money.(J) 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect.(K) 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)(L) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited(M) and fall under the same judgment(N) as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.(P)

8 In the same way, deacons[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.(S) 10 They must first be tested;(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers(U) but temperate(V) and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife(W) and must manage his children and his household well.(X) 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church(Y) of the living God,(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery(AA) from which true godliness(AB) springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,(AC)
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,(AD)
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:4 Or him with proper
  2. 1 Timothy 3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.
  3. 1 Timothy 3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons
  4. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
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1 Timothy 3
New King James Version

Qualifications of Overseers

3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a [a]bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a [e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 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

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, (B)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 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
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1 Timothy 3
English Standard Version

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is (A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to (B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore (C)an overseer[a] must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife,[b] (E)sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but (H)gentle, not quarrelsome, (I)not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity (J)keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for (K)God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may (L)become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by (M)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into (N)a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 (O)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[c] (P)not addicted to much wine, (Q)not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must (R)hold the mystery of the faith with (S)a clear conscience. 10 And (T)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 (U)Their wives likewise[d] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, (V)faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be (W)the husband of one wife, (X)managing their children and their own households well. 13 For (Y)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if 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. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

(Z)He[e] was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated[f] by the Spirit,[g]
        (AA)seen by angels,
(AB)proclaimed among the nations,
    (AC)believed on in the world,
        (AD)taken up in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
  2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
  3. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or devious in speech
  4. 1 Timothy 3:11 Or Wives likewise, or Women likewise
  5. 1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
  6. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
  7. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
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1 Timotheüs 3
BasisBijbel

Adviezen voor het aanwijzen van leiders in de gemeente

3 Als iemand graag een leider wil worden in de gemeente, dan verlangt hij naar een mooie taak. Want het is mooi werk.

2 Van een leider moeten geen slechte dingen gezegd kunnen worden. Hij mag maar één vrouw hebben. Hij moet nuchter, rustig, fatsoenlijk en gastvrij zijn. Ook moet hij goed kunnen lesgeven in het woord. 3 Hij mag niet verslaafd zijn aan wijn en niet driftig zijn. Hij moet vriendelijk en vreedzaam zijn, en geen ruziezoeker. Ook mag hij niet hebzuchtig zijn. 4 Hij moet zijn eigen gezin en de mensen in zijn huis goed kunnen leiden. Ook moet hij zijn kinderen rustig en beheerst opvoeden. 5 Want als iemand zijn eigen huis niet goed kan leiden, hoe zou hij dan de gemeente van God kunnen leiden? 6 Hij mag niet iemand zijn die nog maar pas gelooft, want dan zou hij trots kunnen worden. Dan zou hij in dezelfde valkuil vallen als de duivel.[a] 7 Ook de mensen buiten de gemeente moeten goede dingen over hem zeggen. Want als er slechte dingen over hem worden gezegd, kan hij in de val lopen die de duivel voor hem heeft opgezet.

8 De mensen die hem helpen bij het leiden van de gemeente, moeten goede en fatsoenlijke mensen zijn. Ze moeten in alles eerlijk zijn, niet te veel wijn drinken en niet hebzuchtig zijn. 9 Maar ze moeten met een zuiver geweten vasthouden aan het geheim van het geloof. 10 Ook bij hen moet eerst uitgezocht worden of ze geschikt zijn voor hun taak. Pas als blijkt dat ze geschikt zijn, mogen ze eraan beginnen. 11 Ook hun vrouwen moeten in alles fatsoenlijk zijn. Ze mogen niet roddelen. Maar ze moeten nuchter zijn en in alles te vertrouwen. 12 De mannen die de leider van de gemeente helpen, mogen maar één vrouw hebben. En ze moeten goed leiding kunnen geven aan hun eigen gezin en aan de andere mensen in hun huis. 13 Als ze hun taak goed doen, zullen de mensen respect voor hen hebben. En ze zullen vol geloof en zonder vrees kunnen spreken over het geloof in Jezus Christus.

Het geheim van Christus

14 Ik schrijf je dit nu alvast, ook al hoop ik gauw naar je toe te kunnen komen. 15 Maar het kan zijn dat ik nog een poosje wegblijf. Dan weet je nu alvast hoe de mensen zich moeten gedragen in het huis van God. Het huis van God is de gemeente van de levende God. Het is een steunpilaar en een fundament van de waarheid.

16 Zonder twijfel is het dienen van God iets wat haast niet te begrijpen is:

God is gekomen als een mens,
door de Geest in het gelijk gesteld,
aan de engelen verschenen,
bekend gemaakt aan alle volken,
door mensen over de hele wereld geloofd,
naar de hemel gegaan
en geëerd met hemelse macht en majesteit.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timotheüs 3:6 De duivel kwam ten val door trots!
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