1 Timothy 3 (BHT-ATN)

“If Someone Aspires to Be an Overseer”

1 Trustworthy is this saying: If someone aspires to be an overseer, it is a truly honorable work that he desires. 2 It is imperative, therefore, for an overseer to be above reproach, a man who is to his wife faithful,+ temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to too much wine, not a bully, but gracious, peaceable, free from the love of money; 4 his own household leading well, his children obedient under his care and conducting themselves honorably in every respect+ 5 (if someone doesn’t know how to lead his own household, how will he be able to give proper care and leadership to God’s assembly?); 6 not a new believer,+ lest he become prideful and conceited+ and fall into the very condemnation incurred by the devil.+ 7 He must have, too, a good reputation with outsiders, so that he doesn’t fall into disgrace, and a trap set by the devil.

8 Deacons,+ likewise, must be of honorable conduct, not two-faced, not given to too much wine, not money-hungry,+ 9 adhering to+ the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 The character and reliability+ of these men, too, must be tested and proven first; only then are they to serve, if they have shown themselves to be blameless. 11 Their wives,+ likewise, must be of honorable conduct, not slanderous, temperate, trustworthy+ in all respects. 12 Deacons must be men who are to their wives faithful,+ giving good and honorable leadership to their children and their own households. 13 Those who serve honorably, you see, gain for themselves an honorable standing, and great courage+ as a result of+ the faith that is found in union with Messiah Jesus. 14 These instructions I am giving you by letter, although I do hope to visit you soon, 15 so that, in case I am delayed, you will know how someone is to conduct himself in God’s household, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 Great, indeed, as we all acknowledge and profess, is the mystery of the faith+:

Who appeared as a real man with a mortal nature,+

was vindicated+ clothed in the glory of the Spirit,+

appeared to messengers,+

was announced among the Gentiles,+

was trusted+ in the world,

was taken up in glory.

+1:3Cf NRSV. An infinitive is used in the Greek text here (lit just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus when I was leaving for Macedonia). The construction doesn’t transfer naturally into the receptor language here (English), and most translations compensate in various ways (cf, eg, ESV, NRSV, ISV, TEV).+1:3Unless otherwise noted (through superscript—ᵖyou—or some other means), all second person pronouns are in the second person singular.+1:3The context indicates that the “different doctrines” are already being taught. Cf CJB, ISV, NCV, NLT, TEV; UBSHS (1 Ti), 14.+1:4Or idle disputes, or controversies.+1:4Lit the stewardship/management/administration of God. ME (see translation and notes at Eph 1:10; NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 1:4; UBSHS [1 Ti], 16). Cf HCSB, NET, TEV.+1:8Lit uses it lawfully. ME (see UBSHS [1 Ti], 21; cf TEV).+1:9Or profane.+1:12Or faithful.+1:13Cf Rm 10:1-4.+1:14Cf Rm 5:20.+1:15Or faithful.+1:16This is a more literal rendering of ζωὴν αἰώνιον ( zōēn aiōnion), which most English translations render as “eternal life.” See UBSHS (Jn), 88.+1:18Lit by them. ME. Cf TEV.+1:20παιδεύω ( paideuō) in this context is referring to training through divine discipline (see BDAG, 749, sv 2.b.α.).+1:20Cf 1 Co 5:5.+2:2Or godliness.+2:5Lit a man, Messiah Jesus. ME. Cf CJB, HCSB, NCV, NET, NRSV.+2:6Or in its own appointed time. Cf Ac 1:7; Eph 1:10, 2:12; Ga 4:4-7.+2:7Or to teach the Gentiles in a trustworthy and true manner. Lit a teacher of the Gentiles in faith/trustworthiness and truth. ME. Cf TEV. “In faith and truth” here can be understood as the content of a message (cf NLT; NIV, TEV), or as the manner in which the message is proclaimed (see UBSHS [1 Ti], 53).+2:8Cf Ps 24:4.+2:8Lit I wish the men to pray in every place lifting up holy hands. ME (see UBSHS [1 Ti], 54). Cf CJB, NIV.+2:9Lit likewise women.+2:9Or with modesty and self-control.+2:9Or with appropriate clothing. According to ANLEX, καταστολή ( katastolē) here “may denote an adjustment in behavior or dress” (see ANLEX, 222, sv).+2:11Or a wife.+2:11Or without creating disruption, or respectfully. While ἡσυχία ( ēsuchia) can mean silence, it can also refer to disturbing the peace (see translation and notes at 1 Th 4:1-2; 2 Th 3:12; cf also 1 Pt 3:4). 1 Co 14:35, however, seems to favor the interpretation included in the text. Cf NAC (1 Ti), 98; UBSHS (1 Ti), 58.+2:12Or over her husband.+2:14Lit has come to be in violation/deviation/transgression (of an express command). ME (see BDAG, 707, sv ὁμοίωμα 1; Ibid, 758, sv παραβαίνω 2.b.; UBSHS [1 Ti], 60).+2:15Or through faithfulness to her proper role, such as in bearing children. Lit through childbearing. ME (see NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 2:15). This verse is very difficult to interpret (for a good summary of interpretive options, see NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 2:15). It is possible that διά ( dia) here is signaling a concessive attendant circumstance (see BDAG, 224, sv 3.c.; NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 2:15, interpretation 4). If this is the case (which seems to me to be likely), then the article may be pointing us back to Gn 3:16. This is the interpretation reflected in the translation. In this case, the “salvation” being referred to is the redemption of the body (see Rm 8:23).+2:15Cf Rm 8:23.+2:15Or with self-control.+3:2Or a man devoted solely to his wife, or a man married only once, or a man who has only one wife. Lit a husband of one wife, or a man of one woman. ME. The precise meaning of this phrase is disputed (for a brief summary of the primary interpretive options, see NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 3:2; FSB, 1 Ti 3:2; NAC [1 and 2 Ti], 109; UBSHS [1 Ti], 66). The position advocated in the FSB and the NAC is strong in my mind, and is therefore the option represented in the translation (cf CJB, ISV footnote; NEB; NET footnote; NLT). The alternatives, however, have also been included in a footnote.+3:4Or his children obedient under his care, and conducting himself honorably in every respect. Lit children having in submission, with all respectableness/honorable conduct. ME (see NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 3:4; UBSHS [1 Ti], 69). The prepositional phrase here can be applied either to the father or the children.+3:6Lit not newly planted. ME (I/F) (see ANLEX, 270, sv νεόφυτος; L-N, 11.21).+3:6Lit lest having become wrapped in smoke. ME(I/F) (see ANLEX, 386, sv τυφόω 2; L-N, 88.218; UBSHS [1 Ti], 70).+3:6Or fall into the punishment that would be meted out by the devil. Cf 1 Ti 1:20.+3:8Or helpers, or servants. Cf TEV; NCV at Rm 16:1.+3:8Drawing from the UBSHS in translation here (see UBSHS [1 Ti], 73).+3:9Or holding fast to. In this context, the meaning ἔχω ( echō) is similar to κρατέω ( krateō) at 2 Th 2:15 (see translation and notes there; UBSHS [1 Ti], 73).+3:10IT. Genuineness, dependability, and reliability of character are implied by the verb here (see ANLEX, sv δοκιμή 1; L-N, 27.45; BDAG, 255, sv δοκιμάζω 1). Cf 2 Co 8:22; Php 2:22.+3:11Or women (ie, deaconesses, or femle assistants/helpers). For a brief discussion of interpretative positions here, see NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 3:11.+3:11Or faithful.+3:12Or men devoted solely to their wives, or men who have married only once, or men who only have one wife. Lit husbands of one wife, or men of one woman. ME. See translation and notes at v 3:2 above. The same options apply here.+3:13Or boldness, or confidence.+3:13Or with regard to.+3:16Or the mystery of godliness, or the mystery of our devotion. Depending on the context, the word used here (εὐσέβεια [ eusebeia]) can denote (1) devout practice and an attitude of worship and devotion; (2) godly behavior; or (3) the things that form the basis of belief and practice and devotion (see L-N, 53.1, 53.5; NET Bible Notes, 1 Ti 3:16; UBSHS [1 Ti], 82). The nature of the content in the rest of the verse, and v 3:9 above, indicate that the third option is most likely in view here. Cf NET, NLT, NRSV, RSV, TEV.+3:16Lit in flesh. ME (see BDAG, 915, sv σάρξ 2.c.α., 3.a; FBT Chart, C, F, G; translation and notes at 1 Co 15:50, Php 2:7, and Rm 8:3). Cf Rm 8:3; Php 2:6-11.+3:16Or was acquitted, or was pronounced righteous, or was set free. Cf Is 50:8.+3:16Or vindicated in a state of spirit (not implying immateriality; see Lk 24:39; notes at 1 Co 15:45), or vindicated by the Spirit. 1 Co 15:45 and 1 Pt 3:18 favor the interpretation of ἐν ( en) as a marker of state or condition (see BDAG, 327, sv 2.a.; cf NAC [1 an 2 Ti], 125). Cf also Lk 24:36 (“they...thought they saw a spirit [πνεῦμα ( pneuma)]” [ESV]). In Rm 1:4, Paul uses κατὰ πνεῦμα ( kata pneuma) (“according to the Spirit/spirit”—see translation and notes there; cf also Is 11:1-3), with the resurrection seemingly portrayed as the means of being “declared/appointed” (cf Ac 13:32-35).+3:16Or to angels. In the LXX, ἄγγελος ( angelos), “angel,” is often used not in reference to celestial beings, but to human messengers (see, eg, Hg 1:13; Ml 2:7). This usage is also found in a number of places in the NT (see, eg, Mt 11:10; Lk 9:52; Jm 2:25). The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to those who would be his witnesses (see, eg, Lk 24:34 [ὤφθη Σίμωνι ( ōphthē Simōni)]; 1 Co 15:5-8 [where ὤφθη ( ōphthē) is used with a noun in the dative case four times]), make “messengers” just as likely a possibility here as “angels” (here ὤφθη [ ōphthē] is also used with a noun in the dative case [ἀγγέλοις ( angelois)—“to angels/messengers”]). On the other hand, cf Dn 7:1-14; Mt 28:2-7; Mk 16:4-7; Lk 24:1-8; Ac 2:33; Heb 9:11-12.+3:16Or the nations.+3:16Or believed on.