1 Timothy 3

Qualifications for Overseers

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a 1 bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not 2 given to wine, not violent, 3 not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not 4 covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a 5 novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, b not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the 6 mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not 7 slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons c obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and 8 ground of the truth.

16 And without controversy great is the 9 mystery of godliness:
d God 10 was manifested in the flesh,
e Justified in the Spirit,
f Seen by angels,
g Preached among the Gentiles,
h Believed on in the world,
i Received up in glory.

  1. Cross References
    1 Timothy 6:9
    But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
    2 Timothy 2:26
    And that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
  2. Cross References
    Ezekiel 44:21
    No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.
  3. Cross References
    Matthew 25:21
    "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
  4. Cross References
    John 1:14
    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
    1 Peter 1:20
    He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
    1 John 1:2
    The life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us -
    1 John 3:5
    And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
    1 John 3:8
    He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 3:16
    When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
    Romans 1:4
    And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
  6. Cross References
    Matthew 28:2
    And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
  7. Cross References
    Acts 10:34
    Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
    Romans 10:18
    But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 16:26
    But now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith -
    2 Corinthians 1:19
    For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us - by me, Silvanus, and Timothy - was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes.
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
    Colossians 1:23
    If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 24:51
    Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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