1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3:1

If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

If a man desire the office of public teaching and governing

1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.

A Bishop, then, must be a man of an inoffensive life: one that is not tainted with the common blemish of polygamy; that is, of having more wives at once than one, or, after an unjust repudiation of one wife, marrying another.

1 Timothy 3:6

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Not a novice in the faith, or in age; lest, being puffed up with the conceit of his early advancement above others, he fall, through pride, into that condemnation into which the Devil is, for that same cause, plunged; or give advantage, by this means, to the tempter and accuser of mankind, to work his damnation.

1 Timothy 3:7

Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Lest he fall into the reproach of the heathen; and, going on in lewd and debauched courses, be entangled in the bands of wickedness, the snares of the Devil.

1 Timothy 3:9

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Holding and maintaining the true doctrine of Christian religion, in a sanctified heart and a pure conscience.

1 Timothy 3:13

Purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Do justly obtain the favour and honour, to be preferred to the higher offices in the Church; and do, by this means, receive an increase of courage and holy boldness, in the profession of the Gospel of Christ.

1 Timothy 3:15

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.

How thou oughtest to carry thyself in this great family of God, the Church of the Living God; which is, in respect of men, the pillar and ground of truth: so as that it sustaineth, and beareth up, by a faithful profession and maintenance thereof, the true religion of God.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, &c.

The sum whereof is, that undoubtedly-great and wonderful mystery of godliness: God manifested in the flesh, &c.