1 Timothy 3  Legacy Standard Bible

Overseers and Deacons

3 ^(A)It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the ^(B)office of ^[a]overseer, he desires a good work. ^2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(D)the husband of one wife, ^(E)temperate, sensible, respectable, ^(F)hospitable, ^(G)able to teach, ^3 (H)not addicted to wine ^[c]or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, ^(I)free from the love of money; ^4 (J)leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of ^(K)the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(L)conceited and fall into the ^(M)condemnation of the devil. ⁷ And he must ^(N)have a good reputation with ^(O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and ^(P)the snare of the devil.

^8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not ^[d]double-tongued, ^(R)not indulging in much wine, ^(S)not fond of dishonest gain, ^9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ^10 (U)And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ^11 [e]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(V)not malicious gossips, but ^(W)temperate, faithful in all things. ^12 (X)Deacons must be ^(Y)husbands of only one wife, ^(Z)leading their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(AA)obtain for themselves a ^[f]high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, ¹⁵ but ^[g]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how ^[h]one ought to conduct himself in ^(AB)the household of God, which is the ^(AC)church of ^(AD)the living God, the ^(AE)pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ And by common confession, great is ^(AF)the mystery of godliness: