1 Timothy 3

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BBE WEB

The qualifications and behaviour of gospel bishops

This is a true saying, A man desiring the position of a Bishop has a desire for a good work. This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.
The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher; The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
Not quickly moved to wrath or blows, but gentle; no fighter, no lover of money; not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
Ruling his house well, having his children under control with all serious behaviour; one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
(For if a man has not the art of ruling his house, how will he take care of the church of God?) (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)
Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One. not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One. Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

And of deacons and their wives

Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world; Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;
Keeping the secret of the faith in a heart free from sin. holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them. Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
Women are to be serious in behaviour, saying no evil of others, controlling themselves, true in all things. Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Let Deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their houses well. Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For those who have done good work as Deacons get for themselves a good position and become free from fear in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The reason of writing about these, and other church affairs

I am writing these things to you, though I am hoping to come to you before long; These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
But if I am long in coming, this will make clear to you what behaviour is right for men in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of what is true. but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory. Without 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.
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