1 Timothy

1This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseerdesires a good work.

2The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

3not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

5(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8Servants,in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10Let them also first be tested; then let them serveif they are blameless.

11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

12Let servantsbe husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13For those who have served wellgain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

15but 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.

16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:Godwas 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.

Qualifications for Overseers

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife,temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

4An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.

5For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

7Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

9They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, the womenmust be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

13For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things

15in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appearedin the flesh,was vindicated by the Spirit,was seen by angels,was proclaimed among the nations,was believed in throughout the world,was taken up in glory.