The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.

A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,

Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,

One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie.

For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God?

He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.

He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,

Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience.

And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.

Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things.

Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.

For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee.

But if I tary long, that thou maist yet know, how thou oughtest to behaue thy self in ye house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the pillar and ground of trueth.

And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.

(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer

(a)

desires a good work.

The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

(Acts 6:1–7)

Servants,(b) in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve

(c)

if they are blameless.

Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

Let servants

(d)

be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

For those who have served well

(e)

gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

but 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.

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God

(f)

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.

Footnotes

(a)3:1 or, superintendent, or bishop

(b)3:8 or, Deacons.

(d)3:12 or, deacons

(e)3:13 or, served well as deacons

(f)3:16 NU replaces “God” with “who”