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Qualifications for Overseers

 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Therefore an overseer^[a] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,^[b] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸ Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^[c] not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹ Their wives likewise must^[d] be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, ¹⁵ if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. ¹⁶ Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He^[e] was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated^[f] by the Spirit,^[g]
     seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
     taken up in glory.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1
2. 1 Timothy 3:2 Or a man of one woman; also verse 12
3. 1 Timothy 3:8 Or devious in speech
4. 1 Timothy 3:11 Or Wives, likewise, must, or Women, likewise, must
5. 1 Timothy 3:16 Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which
6. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or justified
7. 1 Timothy 3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

Cross references:

1. 1 Timothy 3:1 : See ch. 1:15
2. 1 Timothy 3:1 : See Acts 20:28
3. 1 Timothy 3:2 : Titus 1:6-9
4. 1 Timothy 3:2 : [ch. 5:9]
5. 1 Timothy 3:2 : ver. 11; Titus 2:2
6. 1 Timothy 3:2 : 1 Pet. 4:9
7. 1 Timothy 3:2 : 2 Tim. 2:24
8. 1 Timothy 3:3 : Titus 3:2
9. 1 Timothy 3:3 : Heb. 13:5; [ch. 6:10]
10. 1 Timothy 3:4 : [ver. 12]
11. 1 Timothy 3:5 : [See ver. 1 above]; See Acts 20:28
12. 1 Timothy 3:6 : ch. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:4
13. 1 Timothy 3:7 : See Mark 4:11
14. 1 Timothy 3:7 : 2 Tim. 2:26; [ch. 6:9]
15. 1 Timothy 3:8 : Phil. 1:1
16. 1 Timothy 3:8 : [ch. 5:23; Titus 2:3]
17. 1 Timothy 3:8 : Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:2
18. 1 Timothy 3:9 : [ch. 1:19]
19. 1 Timothy 3:9 : See Acts 23:1
20. 1 Timothy 3:10 : [ch. 5:22]
21. 1 Timothy 3:11 : Titus 2:3
22. 1 Timothy 3:11 : [Titus 2:10]
23. 1 Timothy 3:12 : ver. 2, 4
24. 1 Timothy 3:12 : ver. 2, 4
25. 1 Timothy 3:13 : See Matt. 25:21
26. 1 Timothy 3:16 : John 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:20
27. 1 Timothy 3:16 : Luke 2:13; 24:4
28. 1 Timothy 3:16 : Gal. 2:2
29. 1 Timothy 3:16 : 2 Thess. 1:10
30. 1 Timothy 3:16 : See Acts 1:2