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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Timothy 3 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_timothy/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_timothy/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 1 Timothy 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_timothy/2.htm" title="1 Timothy 2">◄</a> 1 Timothy 3 <a href="../1_timothy/4.htm" title="1 Timothy 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/1_timothy/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Qualifications for Leaders in the Church</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>This is a trustworthy saying:<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:1 This formula accompanied early Christian sayings on which full reliance could be placed.">a</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">The one who would an elder be,</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">a noble task desires he.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Therefore, an elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:2 Or devoted to his wife; lit. a man of one woman">b</a></span> stable, sensible, respectable, hospitable to strangers, and teachable.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:2 Or able to teach">c</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>He must not drink excessively or be a violent person, but instead be gentle. He must not be argumentative or love money. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>He must manage his own family well and have children who are submissive and respectful in every way. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>He must not be a recent convert, so that he won’t become arrogant and fall into the devil’s condemnation. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>He must be well thought of by outsiders, so he doesn’t<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:7 Lit. outsiders, lest he">d</a></span> fall into disgrace and the trap set for him by<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:7 Lit. the trap of">e</a></span> the devil.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Ministers,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:8 Or Deacons">f</a></span> too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:8 Lit. double-worded">g</a></span> addicted to wine, or greedy for money. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become ministers.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:10 Or deacons">h</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Their wives<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:11 Or Women">i</a></span> must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Ministers<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:12 Or Deacons">j</a></span> must be husbands of one wife<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:12 Or devoted to their wives; lit. men of one woman">k</a></span> and must manage their children and their families well. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Those ministers<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:13 Or deacons">l</a></span> who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance by their faith in the Messiah<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:13 Or Christ">m</a></span> Jesus.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I hope to come to you soon. However, I’m writing this to you <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>in case I am delayed, so that you may know how to behave in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>By common confession, the secret of our godly worship is great:<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 What follows probably represents an early Christian hymn or creed.">n</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">In flesh was he<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 Other mss. read God">o</a></span> revealed to sight,</p> <p class="poetry2">kept righteous by the Spirit’s might,</p> <p class="poetry2">adored by angels singing.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 Lit. he was seen by angels">p</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">To nations was he manifest,</p> <p class="poetry2">believing souls found peace and rest,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 Lit. he was believed in the world">q</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">our Lord in heaven reigning!<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 Lit. he was taken up in glory">r</a></span> </p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 3:1 This formula accompanied early Christian sayings on which full reliance could be placed.<br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 3:2 Or <i>devoted to his wife</i>; lit. <i>a man of one woman</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 3:2 Or <i>able to teach</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 3:7 Lit. <i>outsiders, lest he</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 3:7 Lit. <i>the trap of</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 3:8 Or <i>Deacons</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 3:8 Lit. <i>double-worded</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 3:10 Or <i>deacons</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 3:11 Or <i>Women</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 3:12 Or <i>Deacons</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 3:12 Or <i>devoted to their wives</i>; lit. <i>men of one woman</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 3:13 Or <i>deacons</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 3:13 Or <i>Christ</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 3:16 What follows probably represents an early Christian hymn or creed.<br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 3:16 Other mss. read <i>God</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 3:16 Lit. <i>he was seen by angels</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 3:16 Lit. <i>he was believed in the world</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 3:16 Lit. <i>he was taken up in glory</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../1_timothy/2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Timothy 2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Timothy 2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../1_timothy/4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Timothy 4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Timothy 4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/1_timothy/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><div align="center" style="background-color:#F2FAFF"><br /><br /><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="6710025936" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 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