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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 NLT</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="../">NLT</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 Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/1_timothy/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">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: “If someone aspires to be a church leader,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> he desires an honorable position.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>He must not be a heavy drinker<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a> or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not 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, having children who respect and obey him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall 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 must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then 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, their wives<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a> must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.</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 he must manage his children and household well. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.</p><p class="hdg">The Truths of Our Faith</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a>:</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1">Christ<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">g</span></a> was revealed in a human body</p><p class="line2">and vindicated by the Spirit.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">h</span></a></p><p class="line1">He was seen by angels</p><p class="line2">and announced to the nations.</p><p class="line1">He was believed in throughout the world</p><p class="line2">and taken to heaven in glory.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:1 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">an overseer,</span><span class="ft"> or </span><span class="it">a bishop;</span><span class="ft"> also in 3:2, 6.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:2 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">must have only one wife,</span><span class="ft"> or </span><span class="it">must be married only once;</span><span class="ft"> Greek reads </span><span class="it">must be the husband of one wife;</span><span class="ft"> also in 3:12.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:3 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">must not drink too much wine;</span><span class="ft"> similarly in 3:8.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:6 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">he might fall into the same judgment as the devil.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:11 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">the women deacons.</span><span class="ft"> The Greek word can be translated </span><span class="it">women</span><span class="ft"> or </span><span class="it">wives.</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:16a </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">of godliness.</span><br><span class="fn">g</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:16b </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">He who;</span><span class="ft"> other manuscripts read </span><span class="it">God.</span><br><span class="fn">h</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:16c </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">in his spirit.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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