1 Timothy 3
1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
This is a trustworthy statement: “If someone aspires to be an elder, this is a good work to want to do.”
2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
An elder must be above reproach, married to one wife, self-controlled, well-balanced, sensible, hospitable, and able to teach.
3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
He should be someone who doesn't get drunk or become violent, but is gentle, and is not argumentative or greedy for money.
4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
He must handle his own family well. His children must respect what he tells them to do.
5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
(For if a man doesn't know how to manage his own family, how can he manage God's church?)
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
He should not be a new believer, in case he gets so full of himself he falls under the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
People outside the church should also speak well of him so that he won't disgrace himself and fall into the devil's trap.
8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
Similarly deacons should be respected, and not hypocritical. They should not be addicted to drink, and should not be trying to dishonestly enrich themselves.
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
They must stick to the revealed truth about God, trusting in him with a pure conscience.
10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
They should be tried out first, and if they can't be faulted then let them serve as deacons.
11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
Their wives should be respected too. They should not slander people with gossip, and they should be self-controlled and trustworthy in all they do.
12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Deacons should be married to one wife, managing their children and their homes well.
13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Messiah Yeshua.
Those who serve well as deacons gain a good reputation and much confidence in their trust in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
Even though I hope to see you soon, I'm writing about all this to you so that
15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
if I'm delayed you'll know how people should behave themselves in God's house. This is the church of the living God, the support pillar and foundation of the truth.
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
There's no question about it: the revealed truth about God is amazing! He was made known to us in human form, he was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, declared to the nations, trusted in by the world, and taken up in glory!
