1 Timothy 3 – Compare Chapter Translations

Verse-by-verse comparison of 1 Timothy 3 across supported Bible translations.

Verse 1

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

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

WEB This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work.

YLT Stedfast <FI>is<Fi> the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

DRB A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth good work.

DBY The word [is] faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

GNV This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.

LSB It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.

Verse 2

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

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

WEB The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

YLT it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

DRB It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,

DBY The overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;

GNV A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,

LSB An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Verse 3

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

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

WEB not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

YLT not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

DRB Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but

DBY not given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

GNV Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,

LSB not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love of money;

Verse 4

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

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

WEB one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

YLT his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

DRB One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.

DBY conducting his own house well, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;

GNV One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie.

LSB leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity

Verse 5

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

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

WEB (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)

YLT (and if any one his own house <FI>how<Fi> to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

DRB But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

DBY (but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)

GNV For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God?

LSB (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

Verse 6

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

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

WEB not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

YLT not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

DRB Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.

DBY not a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into [the] fault of the devil.

GNV He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.

LSB and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Verse 7

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

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

WEB Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

YLT and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

DRB Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

DBY But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and [the] snare of the devil.

GNV He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.

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

Verse 8

KJV Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

ASV Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

WEB Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;

YLT Ministrants--in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

DRB Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

DBY Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

GNV Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,

LSB Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,

Verse 9

KJV Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

ASV holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

WEB holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

YLT having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

DRB Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.

DBY holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

GNV Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience.

LSB but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Verse 10

KJV And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

ASV And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

WEB Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

YLT and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

DRB And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.

DBY And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge [against them].

GNV And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.

LSB And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

Verse 11

KJV Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

ASV Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

WEB Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

YLT Women--in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

DRB The women in like manner: chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.

DBY [The] women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

GNV Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things.

LSB Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

Verse 12

KJV Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

ASV Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well.

WEB Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

YLT Ministrants--let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

DRB Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children and their own houses.

DBY Let [the] ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting [their] children and their own houses well:

GNV Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.

LSB Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, leading their children and their own households well.

Verse 13

KJV 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.

ASV For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

WEB For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

YLT for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that <FI>is<Fi> in Christ Jesus.

DRB For they that have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

DBY for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which [is] in Christ Jesus.

GNV For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus.

LSB For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Verse 14

KJV These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

ASV These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

WEB These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;

YLT These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

DRB These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall come to thee shortly.

DBY These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;

GNV These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee.

LSB I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon,

Verse 15

KJV 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.

ASV but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

WEB but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

YLT and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth <FI>thee<Fi> to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God--a pillar and foundation of the truth,

DRB 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.

DBY but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is [the] assembly of [the] living God, [the] pillar and base of the truth.

GNV But if I tary long, that thou maist yet know, how thou oughtest to behaue thy self in ye house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the pillar and ground of trueth.

LSB but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

Verse 16

KJV 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.

ASV And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

WEB Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

YLT and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

DRB And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.

DBY And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in [the] Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among [the] nations, has been believed on in [the] world, has been received up in glory.

GNV And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.

LSB And by common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.