1 Timothy 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Overseers Must Be Above Reproach
3 The saying is trustworthy— if anyone aspires-to the office-of-overseer, he desires a good work. 2 Therefore the overseer must be above-reproach[a], a man of one woman[b], sober[c], sound-minded[d], respectable[e], hospitable, skillful-at-teaching, 3 not a drunken[f] one, not a brawler[g], but kind, non-quarrelsome[h], not-a-money-lover, 4 leading his own household well[i], having children in submission, with all dignity (5 but if one does not know-how to lead his own household, how will he take-care-of a church of God?), 6 not a new-convert, in order that he may not fall into the judgment of [j] the devil, having become conceited[k]. 7 And he must also have a good testimony from the ones outside, in order that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.
Deacons Must Be Honorable And Tested
8 Deacons similarly must be honorable[l], not double-tongued[m], not paying-attention-to[n] much wine, not fond-of-shameful-gain, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 And let these also first be tested, then let them be serving[o], being blameless. 11 Their wives[p] similarly must be honorable, not slanderous, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be men of one woman, leading their children and their own households well. 13 For the ones having served well obtain for themselves a good standing[q] and great confidence[r] in their[s] faith in Christ Jesus.
I Am Writing So You Will Know How To Conduct Yourself In The Church
14 I am writing these things to you hoping to come to you quickly, 15 but in-case I am slow[t], in order that you may know how you ought-to conduct-yourself [u] in the household of God— which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support[v] of the truth.
God Was Revealed In The Flesh, But Some Will Depart From The Faith And Good Teaching
16 And the mystery of godliness is confessedly great: Who[w] was revealed[x] in the flesh, was declared-righteous[y] in the spirit[z]; was seen[aa] by messengers[ab], was proclaimed among the nations; was believed in the world, was taken-up in glory.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or, without blame, beyond criticism.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or, husband of one wife. Some think this refers in some sense to marital status; others, to marital fidelity.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 That is, sober in judgment, serious.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or, prudent, moderate, self-controlled.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 Or, well-ordered, as in 2:9; honorable.
- 1 Timothy 3:3 That is, known for drunken behavior and exhibitions.
- 1 Timothy 3:3 Or, belligerent, combative.
- 1 Timothy 3:3 Or, peaceable.
- 1 Timothy 3:4 Or, commendably.
- 1 Timothy 3:6 That is, the kind of judgment made by the devil, a judgmental spirit; or, the condemnation pronounced upon the devil.
- 1 Timothy 3:6 Or, clouded with pride.
- 1 Timothy 3:8 Or, worthy of respect, dignified.
- 1 Timothy 3:8 That is, insincere.
- 1 Timothy 3:8 Or, devoting-themselves-to, and thus, being addicted to.
- 1 Timothy 3:10 Or, serving-as-deacons.
- 1 Timothy 3:11 Their wives. Or, Women deacons.
- 1 Timothy 3:13 Or, rank, degree of respect.
- 1 Timothy 3:13 Or, boldness.
- 1 Timothy 3:13 Or, in the faith which is in.
- 1 Timothy 3:15 That is, choose to proceed slowly.
- 1 Timothy 3:15 Or, behave, live.
- 1 Timothy 3:15 Or, mainstay, foundation.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Some manuscripts say ‘God’.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or, appeared.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or, vindicated, proved-righteous.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or, in His spirit; or, by the Spirit.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or, appeared to.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 Or, angels, if heavenly messengers are in view.
1 Timothy 3
Authorized (King James) Version
3 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 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.
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 Timothy 3:1 Lit. overseer
- 1 Timothy 3:3 addicted
- 1 Timothy 3:3 NU omits not greedy for money
- 1 Timothy 3:3 loving money
- 1 Timothy 3:6 new convert
- 1 Timothy 3:9 hidden truth
- 1 Timothy 3:11 malicious gossips
- 1 Timothy 3:15 foundation, mainstay
- 1 Timothy 3:16 hidden truth
- 1 Timothy 3:16 NU Who
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
