1 Timothy 3 - 4 — Legacy Standard Bible

Overseers and Deacons

3^aIt is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the ^boffice of ¹overseer, he desires a good work. ²¹^,^aAn overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^bthe husband of one wife, ^ctemperate, sensible, respectable, ^dhospitable, ^eable to teach, ³^anot addicted to wine ¹or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, ^bfree from the love of money; ⁴^aleading 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 ^athe church of God?), ⁶and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^aconceited and fall into the ^bcondemnation of the devil. ⁷And he must ^ahave a good reputation with ^bthose outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and ^cthe snare of the devil.

⁸^aDeacons likewise must be dignified, not ¹double-tongued, ^bnot indulging in much wine, ^cnot fond of dishonest gain, ⁹^abut holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰^aAnd these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ¹¹¹Women must likewise be dignified, ^anot malicious gossips, but ^btemperate, faithful in all things. ¹²^aDeacons must be ^bhusbands of only one wife, ^cleading their children and their own households well. ¹³For those who have served well as deacons ^aobtain for themselves a ¹high standing 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 ¹in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how ²one ought to conduct himself in ^athe household of God, which is the ^bchurch of ^cthe living God, the ^dpillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶And by common confession, great is ^athe mystery of godliness: He who was ^bmanifested in the flesh,Was ¹^,^cvindicated ²in the Spirit,^dSeen by angels,^eProclaimed among the nations,^fBelieved on in the world,Taken up in glory.

Some Will Fall Away

4But ^athe Spirit explicitly says that ^bin later times some will ¹fall away from the faith, paying attention to ^cdeceitful spirits and ^ddoctrines of demons, ²by the hypocrisy of liars, who have been ^aseared in their own conscience, ³who ^aforbid marriage and advocate ^babstaining from foods which ^cGod created to be shared in ^dwith thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For ^aeverything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is ^breceived with thanksgiving, ⁵for it is sanctified by ^athe word of God and prayer.

A Good Minister’s Discipline

⁶In pointing out these things to ^athe brothers, you will be a good ^bservant of Christ Jesus, being nourished on the words of the faith and of the ¹^,^csound doctrine which you ^dhave been following. ⁷But refuse ^agodless ^bmyths fit only for old women. On the other hand, train yourself for the purpose of ^cgodliness, ⁸for ^abodily training is only of little profit, but ^bgodliness is profitable for all things, since it ^cholds promise for the ^dpresent life and also for the life to come. ⁹^aIt is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance. ¹⁰For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed ^aour hope on ^bthe living God, who is ^cthe Savior of all men, especially of believers.

¹¹^aCommand and teach these things. ¹²^aLet no one look down on your youthfulness, but show yourself as ^ba model to those who believe in word, conduct, ^clove, faith, and purity. ¹³^aUntil I come, give attention to the public ^breading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift within you, which was given to you through ^aprophetic utterance with ^bthe laying on of hands by the ^ccouncil of elders. ¹⁵Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶^aPay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ^bsave both yourself and those who hear you.