1 Timothy 3
The full text of 1 Timothy 3 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and wholly respectful—
5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the devil's trap.
8 Deacons likewise must be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, not pursuing dishonest gain,
9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They too must first be tested; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, the women must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.
13 Those who have served well as deacons gain an excellent standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon.
15 But 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.
16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Translation notes (7)
- 1 Timothy 3:2a The Greek phrase mias gynaikos andra literally means 'a one-woman man' or 'husband of one wife.' This phrase may require (1) faithfulness to one's wife, (2) being married only once, or (3) not being polygamous. The exact demand of this phrase—and whether it presumes that an overseer must be a married man—is debated.
- 1 Timothy 3:4a 'Wholly respectful' (Greek meta pasēs semnotētos) may describe either the father's manner of managing his household or the children's conduct. The Greek text leaves this open to interpretation.
- 1 Timothy 3:6a 'The judgment of the devil' (Greek krima tou diabolou) may mean either the condemnation that the devil himself received, or condemnation that is brought about by the devil. The Greek grammatical form (the genitive case) is ambiguous and allows for both interpretations.
- 1 Timothy 3:11a The Greek phrase gynaikas hōsautōs means 'women likewise.' Because there is no possessive word, this phrase may refer to women deacons (deaconesses) or to the wives of deacons. The Greek text does not specify which meaning is intended.
- 1 Timothy 3:12a The Greek phrase mias gynaikos andres means 'one-woman men.' This is the same debated phrase as in 3:2, which can mean faithful to one wife, husband of one wife, or married only once.
- 1 Timothy 3:16a The earliest and best manuscripts read the Greek word hos, meaning 'who' (rendered here as 'He'). Later Byzantine manuscripts, followed by the King James tradition, read the Greek word theos, meaning 'God'—resulting in 'God was revealed in the flesh.' The reading 'who/He' is adopted in this translation.
- 1 Timothy 3:16b The Greek phrase edikaiōthē en pneumati means 'vindicated or justified in the Spirit.' This could possibly mean 'in the spiritual realm' or 'by the Spirit'.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is a new translation of the Bible prepared by Trinity Bible AI — rendered from the original Greek and faithful to the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Finished in 2026, it is the most modern English Bible translation you can read today, and it is available only through Trinity Bible. All 66 books, including 1 Timothy, are free to read on this site.
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