1 Timothy 3
Revised Geneva Translation
3 This is a true saying: If anyone desires the office of an overseer, he desires a worthy work.
2 Therefore, an overseer must be blameless - the husband of one wife, sober, temperate, modest, a lover of strangers, able to teach -
3 neither a drunkard nor a brawler nor given to greed, but gentle, peace-loving and without avarice.
4 One who rules his own house well, having obedient children under him with all respect.
5 For if anyone cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the Church of God?
6 He may not be a young scholar, lest he (being puffed up) falls into the condemnation of the devil.
7 He must also be of good reputation, even among outsiders, lest he fall into rebuke and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise, deacons must be honorable—not duplicitous or given to much wine or to greed—
9 holding to the mystery of the faith in pure conscience.
10 And let them be tested first, then let them minister (if they are found blameless).
11 Likewise, their wives must also be honorable (not slanderers), sober, and faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children and their own households well.
13 For those who have ministered well gain a good standing for themselves, and great liberty in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you very shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, so that you may still know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God (which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth).
16 And admittedly, the mystery of godliness is great: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in Glory.
1 Timothy 3
Expanded Bible
Elders in the Church
3 ·What I say is true [or This saying/word is trustworthy; 1:15; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8]: Anyone ·wanting [aspiring] to become an ·overseer [T bishop; C perhaps the same as elder; 3:6, 7; 5:17; Titus 1:5–6] desires a ·good [honorable; noble] ·work [role; position]. 2 An overseer must ·not give people a reason to criticize him [have a good reputation; be above reproach], and he must ·have only one wife [or be faithful to his wife]. He must be ·self-controlled [sober], ·wise [have good judgment], respected by others, ·ready to welcome guests [hospitable], and able to teach. 3 He must not drink too much wine or ·like to fight [be violent/a troublemaker], but rather be gentle and ·peaceable [not quarrelsome/contentious], not ·loving money [avaricious; greedy]. 4 He must ·be a good family leader [L manage/lead his own household well], having children ·who cooperate with full respect [who obey and respect him; or whom he controls with dignity]. 5 (If someone does not know how to ·lead [manage] his own ·family [household], how can that person take care of God’s church?) 6 But an elder must not be a ·new believer [recent convert], or he might ·be too proud of himself [become arrogant] and ·be judged guilty just as the devil was [or incur the same punishment as the devil; 1:20]. 7 An elder must also have ·the respect of [a good reputation among] ·people who are not in the church [L outsiders] so he will not ·be criticized by others [fall into disgrace; be caught in a scandal] ·and [or and in this way] ·caught [ensnared] in the devil’s trap.
Deacons in the Church
8 In the same way, deacons must be ·respected by others [dignified], not ·saying things they do not mean [insincere; two-faced; deceitful]. They must not drink too much wine or ·try to get rich by cheating others [be greedy for money/profit]. 9 With a clear conscience they must ·follow [hold on to] ·the secret of the faith that God made known to us [or God’s revealed truths; L the mystery of the faith; C a mystery being something previously unknown but now revealed by God; Eph. 1:9]. 10 Test them first. Then let them serve as deacons if you find ·nothing wrong in them [them blameless]. 11 In the same way, ·women [or women who are deacons; or deacon’s wives] must be ·respected by others [dignified]. They must not ·speak evil of others [be slanderers/gossips]. They must be ·self-controlled [sober] and ·trustworthy [honest; faithful] in everything. 12 Deacons must ·have only one wife [or be faithful to their wife] and be good ·leaders [managers] of their children and their own ·families [households]. 13 Those who serve well as deacons ·are making an honorable place [gain good standing] for themselves, and they will ·be very bold [or have greater confidence/assurance] in their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Secret of Our Life
14 Although I hope I can come to you ·soon [quickly], I am writing these things to you now. 15 Then, even if I am delayed, you will know ·how [L how it is necessary] to live in the ·family [household] of God, which is the ·church [assembly] of the living God, the ·support [pillar] and foundation of the truth. 16 ·Without doubt [or And we all agree], ·the secret of our life of worship [or the truth revealed in our faith/worship; L the mystery of godliness; v. 9] is great [C what follows may be from an early Christian hymn]:
He[a] ·was shown to us [appeared; was revealed] in ·a human body [T the flesh],
·proved right [vindicated] ·in spirit [or by the Spirit],
and seen by angels.
He was proclaimed ·to [among] the ·nations [Gentiles],
believed in ·by [or in; throughout] the world,
and taken up in glory.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:16 He Some Greek copies read “God.”
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