Parallel Bible results for "1 timothy 3"

1 Timothy 3

KJV

MSG

1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good!
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
2 But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he's talking about,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
3 not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry.
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
4 He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect.
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
5 For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church?
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
6 He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
7 Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
8 The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it.
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
9 They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
10 Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
11 No exceptions are to be made for women - same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
12 Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs.
13 For they that 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.
13 Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
14 I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
15 you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
16 This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough: He appeared in a human body, was proved right by the invisible Spirit, was seen by angels. He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, taken up into heavenly glory.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.