1 Timothy 3:1 - Forerunner Commentary

1 Timothy 3:1

Qualifications of Overseers

1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a¹ 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 not¹ given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not³ 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 a¹ 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 ^asnare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, ^anot given to much wine, not greedy for money,

9 holding the¹ 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, not¹ 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 ^aobtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Great Mystery

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 and¹ ground of the truth.

16 And without controversy great is the¹ mystery of god¹liness:
^aGod was manifested in the flesh,
^bJustified in the Spirit,
^cSeen by angels,
^dPreached among the Gentiles,
^eBelieved on in the world,
^fReceived up in glory.

Verse Comparison: 1 Timothy 3:1

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1 Timothy 3:2 >>

American Standard Version
Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Amplified® Bible
THE SAYING is true {and} irrefutable: If any man [eagerly] seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).

Contemporary English Version
It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile.

Darby English Version
The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

Good News Bible
This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work.

International Standard Version
This saying is trustworthy: The one who would an elder be, A noble task desires he.

King James Version
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

New American Standard Bible
It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires {to do.}

New International Version
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

New King James Version
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
We make a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires to do a fine work.

Young's Literal Translation
Stedfast `is' the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

New English Translation
This saying¹ is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer,² he desires a good work.”

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