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1 Timothy 3

1This saying is trustworthy: if someone aspires to oversight, he desires a good work. 2The overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own household well, keeping his children in submission with all dignity. 5If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's assembly? 6He must not be a new convert, lest he become puffed up and fall into the devil's condemnation. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil's snare.

8Likewise, servants of the assembly must be dignified, not double-tongued, not devoted to much wine, not greedy for shameful gain, 9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10Let them first be tested; then, if they are beyond accusation, let them serve. 11Likewise, women must be dignified, not slanderers, sober, faithful in everything. 12Let servants of the assembly be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13For those who have served well gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

14I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 15But if I am delayed, you will know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's household, which is the assembly of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth. 16And undeniably great is the mystery of devotion to God:

He who was revealed in flesh, vindicated in Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.

Translation notes 7

3:1–2 — “Oversight”; “overseer.” Often “office of bishop” and “bishop.” These describe a recognized responsibility for the assembly without specifying a later denominational structure.

3:2, 12; 5:9 — “Husband of one wife”; “wife of one husband.” The reciprocal expressions are preserved. Whether they require marital fidelity, forbid concurrent spouses, or exclude remarriage is debated.

3:6 — “The devil's condemnation.” This can mean the condemnation incurred by the devil or condemnation brought about by him.

3:8 — “Servants of the assembly”; “double-tongued.” The servants are the recognized group usually called “deacons”; “of the assembly” identifies the role from context. “Double-tongued” means inconsistent or deceitful in speech, such as saying different things to different people.

3:9, 16 — “Mystery.” Here this concerns divine truth made known, not necessarily something that cannot be understood.

3:11 — “Women.” Possibly women serving in the role just described, or the servants' wives. Greek does not say “their wives.”

3:16 — “He who”; “vindicated in Spirit.” The Greek base reads “who,” referring to Christ; a variant reads “God.” “In spirit” is also possible: the Greek does not settle the capitalization. “Vindicated” here expresses being shown to be in the right.