TRANSLATIONS OF 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7

KJV – King James Version

NKJ – New King James Version

ASV – American Standard Version

CEV – Contemporary English Version

NIV – New International Version

RSV – Revised Standard Version

NRSV – New Revised Standard Version

NCV – New Century Version

NASV – New American Standard Version

:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (KJV)

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. (NKJ)

Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (ASV)

It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. (CEV)

It is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (NIV)

The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task. (RSV)

The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. (NRSV)

What I say is true: Anyone wanting to become an elder desires a good work. (NCV)

It is a trustworthy statement; if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. (NASV)

Faithful (is) the statement: If one aspires to overseership he desires an excellent work. (Lenski)

Reliable is the saying, If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble work. (Hendriksen)

:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (KJV)

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; (KNJ)

The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (ASV)

That’s why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. (CEV)

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (NIV)

Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, (RSV)

Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, (NRSV)

Now an elder must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach. (NCV)

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (NASV)

It is necessary, then, that an overseer be irreproachable, one wife’s husband, temperate, soberminded, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach, (Lenski)

The overseer therefore must be above reproach, one wife’s husband, temperate, self-controlled, virtuous, hospitable, qualified to teach (Hendriksen)

:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (KJV)

not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; (NKJ)

no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; (ASV)

They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle, and not love money. (CEV)

not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (RSV)

not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. (NRSV)

He must not drink too much wine, or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money. (NCV)

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. (NASV)

not one (sitting long) beside wine, not a striker; on the contrary, one yielding, not fighting, not silver-loving, (Lenski)

not (one who lingers) beside (his) wine, not given to blows but genial, not contentious, not fond of money (Hendriksen)

:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (KJV)

one who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all reverence (NKJ)

one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (ASV)

Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. (CEV)

He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (NIV)

He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; (RSV)

He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— (NRSV)

He must be a good family leader, having children who cooperate with full respect. (NCV)

He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (NASV)

Superintending his own house well as having children in subjection with all dignity; (Lenski)

Managing well his own household, with true dignity keeping his children in submission; (Hendriksen)

:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (KJV)

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); (NKJ)

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (ASV)

If they don’t know how to control their own families, how can they look after God’s people? (CEV)

(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) (NIV)

for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? (RSV)

for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church? (NRSV)

(If someone does not know how to lead the family, how can that person take care of God’s church?) (NCV)

(but if a man dose not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) (NASV)

if now one does not know to superintend his own house, how will he take care of God’s church? (Lenski)

(for if a person does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) (Hendriksen)

:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (KJV)

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. (NKJ)

not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (ASV)

They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil. (CEV)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. (NIV)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil; (RSV)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (NRSV)

But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was. (NCV)

and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. (NASV)

not a novice lest, having become conceited, he fall into the devil’s judgment. (Lenski)

not a recent convert, in order that he may not become beclouded by conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (Hendriksen)

:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (KJV)

Moreover he must have a testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (NKJV)

Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (ASV)

Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won’t be trapped and disgraced by the devil. (CEV)

He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (NIV)

Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (RSV)

Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. (NRSV)

An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil’s trap. (NCV)

And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (NASV)

Moreover, it is necessary also that he have excellent testimony from those without lest he fall into reproaching and the devil’s snare. (Lenski)

He must also have a favorable testimony from outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and a snare of the devil. (Hendriksen)

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