How overseers and deacons should be qualified, 1-13; and to what end Paul wrote to Timothy of these things, 14. Of the church, and the blessed truth therein taught and professed, 15, 16.
1 This is a true saying: if a man desires the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. 2 An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, 3 Not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, 4 One who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gravity 5 (For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?), 6 Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must have a good report of those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise, the deacons must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved. Then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly. 15 But if I delay, [I write] so that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great.
God was manifest in the flesh,/
justified in the Spirit,/
seen by angels,/
preached to the Gentiles,/
believed in by the world,/
and received up into glory.
Matthew Henry Commentary - 1st Timothy, Chapter 3[➚]
[v.2] - "bishop" - A bishop is also known as an elder.
[v.15] - Text in square brackets added for implied meaning. This was added to improve the readability of the verse.