Focused Passage

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Qualified Leadership and Conduct in the Household of God

Paul moves from overseer qualifications, to deacon qualifications, to the theological reason for ordered church conduct: the church is God's household, the pillar and foundation of the truth, confessing the mystery of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

4 An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity.

5 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.

7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

[This is] a trustworthy Πιστὸς G4103 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular saying λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular If εἴ G1487 Conjunction anyone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular aspires to be ὀρέγεται G3713 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular an overseer ἐπισκοπῆς G1984 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular he desires ἐπιθυμεῖ G1937 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a noble καλοῦ G2570 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular task ἔργου G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 2

Original words

An τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular overseer ἐπίσκοπον G1985 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active above reproach ἀνεπίλημπτον G423 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular [the] husband ἄνδρα G435 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of but one μιᾶς G1520 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular wife γυναικὸς G1135 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular temperate νηφάλιον G3524 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular self-controlled σώφρονα G4998 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular respectable κόσμιον G2887 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular hospitable φιλόξενον G5382 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular able to teach διδακτικόν G1317 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or faithful to his wife; also in verse 12
Verse 3

Original words

not μὴ G3361 Adverb dependent on wine πάροινον G3943 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb violent πλήκτην G4131 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction gentle ἐπιεικῆ G1933 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular peaceable ἄμαχον G269 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular [and] free of the love of money ἀφιλάργυρον G866 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 4

Original words

[An overseer must] manage προϊστάμενον G4291 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Accusative Masculine Singular [his] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular own ἰδίου G2398 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular household οἴκου G3624 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular well καλῶς G2573 Adverb [and] keep ἔχοντα G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular [his] children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural under ἐν G1722 Preposition control ὑποταγῇ G5292 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition complete πάσης G3956 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular dignity σεμνότητος G4587 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 5

Original words

[For] δέ G1161 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction someone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular {does} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb know οἶδεν G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular how πῶς G4459 Adverb to manage προστῆναι G4291 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active [his] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular own ἰδίου G2398 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular household οἴκου G3624 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [how] can he care for ἐπιμελήσεται G1959 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular [the] church ἐκκλησίας G1577 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 6

Original words

[He must] not [be] μὴ G3361 Adverb a recent convert νεόφυτον G3504 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv ἵνα G2443 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb or he may become conceited τυφωθεὶς G5187 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] fall ἐμπέσῃ G1706 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular under εἰς G1519 Preposition [ the same ] condemnation κρίμα G2917 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular as the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular devil διαβόλου G1228 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 7

Original words

Furthermore δὲ G1161 Conjunction . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction he must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular have ἔχειν G2192 Verb - Present Infinitive Active a good καλὴν G2570 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular reputation μαρτυρίαν G3141 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular with ἀπὸ G575 Preposition vvv τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural outsiders ἔξωθεν G1855 Adverb so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb he will not fall ἐμπέσῃ G1706 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition disgrace ὀνειδισμὸν G3680 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [into the] snare παγίδα G3803 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular devil διαβόλου G1228 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.