1 Timothée 3
Louis Segond
3 Cette parole est certaine: Si quelqu'un aspire à la charge d'évêque, il désire une oeuvre excellente.
2 Il faut donc que l'évêque soit irréprochable, mari d'une seul femme, sobre, modéré, réglé dans sa conduite, hospitalier, propre à l'enseignement.
3 Il faut qu'il ne soit ni adonné au vin, ni violent, mais indulgent, pacifique, désintéressé.
4 Il faut qu'il dirige bien sa propre maison, et qu'il tienne ses enfants dans la soumission et dans une parfaite honnêteté;
5 car si quelqu'un ne sait pas diriger sa propre maison, comment prendra-t-il soin de l'Église de Dieu?
6 Il ne faut pas qu'il soit un nouveau converti, de peur qu'enflé d'orgueil il ne tombe sous le jugement du diable.
7 Il faut aussi qu'il reçoive un bon témoignage de ceux du dehors, afin de ne pas tomber dans l'opprobre et dans les pièges du diable.
8 Les diacres aussi doivent être honnêtes, éloignés de la duplicité, des excès du vin, d'un gain sordide,
9 conservant le mystère de la foi dans une conscience pure.
10 Qu'on les éprouve d'abord, et qu'ils exercent ensuite leur ministère, s'ils sont sans reproche.
11 Les femmes, de même, doivent être honnêtes, non médisantes, sobres, fidèles en toutes choses.
12 Les diacres doivent être maris d'une seule femme, et diriger bien leurs enfants et leurs propres maisons;
13 car ceux qui remplissent convenablement leur ministère s'acquièrent un rang honorable, et une grande assurance dans la foi en Jésus Christ.
14 Je t'écris ces choses, avec l'espérance d'aller bientôt vers toi,
15 mais afin que tu saches, si je tarde, comment il faut se conduire dans la maison de Dieu, qui est l'Église du Dieu vivant, la colonne et l'appui de la vérité.
16 Et, sans contredit, le mystère de la piété est grand: celui qui a été manifesté en chair, justifié par l'Esprit, vu des anges, prêché aux Gentils, cru dans le monde, élevé dans la gloire.
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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