1 Timothy 3

16 verses

Verse 1 This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. Verse 2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; Verse 3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money; Verse 4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; Verse 5 (but if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) Verse 6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Verse 7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil. Verse 8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money; Verse 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Verse 10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. Verse 11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Verse 12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Verse 13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Verse 14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; Verse 15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Verse 16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He 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.