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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" /><title>1 Timothy 3 NIV</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="../">NIV</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">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/1_timothy/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of 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 see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or him with proper">a</a></sup></span> respect. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>(If anyone 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, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>In the same way, deacons <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.">b</a></sup></span> are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>In the same way, the women <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Possibly deacons' wives or women who are deacons">c</a></sup></span> are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.</p> <p class="sectionhead">Reasons for Paul’s Instructions</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves 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>Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">He appeared in the flesh,</p><p class="line2">was vindicated by the Spirit, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or vindicated in spirit">d</a></sup></span> </p><p class="line1">was seen by angels,</p><p class="line2">was preached among the nations,</p><p class="line1">was believed on in the world,</p><p class="line2">was taken up in glory.</p></div><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">4</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>him with proper</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">8</span> <span class="footnotebot">The word <i>deacons</i> refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">11</span> <span class="footnotebot">Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">16</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>vindicated in spirit</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. 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