1Ti 3 | ESV | STEP | The saying is trustworthy : If anyone aspires to the office of overseer , he desires a noble task .

1 The saying is ^atrustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^bthe office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore ^can overseer ^{▼▼Or bishop; Greek episkopos; a similar term occurs in verse 1} must be above reproach, ^ethe husband of one wife, ^{▼▼Or a man of one woman; also verse 12} ^gsober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^hhospitable, ⁱable to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but ^jgentle, not quarrelsome, ^knot a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^lkeeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^mGod’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may ⁿbecome puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^ooutsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^pa snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 ^qDeacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, ^{▼▼Or devious in speech} ^snot addicted to much wine, ^tnot greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must ^uhold the mystery of the faith with ^va clear conscience. 10 And ^wlet them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 ^xTheir wives likewise must ^{▼▼Or Wives, likewise, must, or Women, likewise, must} be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^zfaithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be ^aathe husband of one wife, ^abmanaging their children and their own households well. 13 For ^acthose who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

^adHe ^{▼▼Greek Who; some manuscripts God; others Which} was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated ^{▼▼Or justified} by the Spirit, ^{▼▼Or vindicated in spirit}
^ahseen by angels,
^aiproclaimed among the nations,
^ajbelieved on in the world,
^aktaken up in glory.