New Testament
1 Timothy 3
Overview
Paul lays out the qualifications for the two recognized offices of the local church. He affirms that to aspire to the office of overseer is to desire a noble task, then enumerates the character required: above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard or violent or quarrelsome or a lover of money, managing his own household well, and not a recent convert lest he be puffed up and fall into the devil's condemnation. He adds that the overseer must be well thought of by outsiders. He then turns to deacons, requiring dignity, sincerity, sobriety, freedom from greed, a clear conscience holding the mystery of the faith, testing before service, and qualifications for their wives (or women deacons) and for their household management. Paul states his purpose for writing—so that Timothy may know how to behave in the household of God, the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth—and crowns the chapter with an early Christian hymn confessing the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
1This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.
2The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
3not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
5(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,
9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.
12Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,
15but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God 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.