1 TIM 3:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Therefore, it is necessary for the overseer to be irreproachable, a husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, proper, hospitable, able to teach,

UST Because doing that is good, those who lead the rest of God’s people must be those whom no one can rightly accuse of doing anything wrong. They must be sexually faithful to their wives. They must not do everything that they desire. They must control themselves. They must act in appropriate ways. They must welcome guests into their homes. They must be good at teaching others.

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

BLB Therefore it behooves the overseer to be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

AICNT Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

OEB The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,

CSB An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

NLT So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.

NIV Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

CEV 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.

ESV Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

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

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

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

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-7)If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap.

NET The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

LSV it is required, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, a husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, respectable, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

FBV An elder must be above reproach, married to one wife, self-controlled, well-balanced, sensible, hospitable, and able to teach.

TCNT Therefore the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

T4T Since that is a task that others should respect, an overseer must live in such a way that no one can truly ◄say that he has done anything that is wrong/find fault with him►. Specifically, he must be faithful to his wife. He must think clearly about what he does. He must be able to control his behavior. He must be sensible. He must be dignified/respectable. He must welcome and care for guests. He must be able to teach God’s truth well.

LEB Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching,

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

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

NAB Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach,

BBE The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher;

Moff Well, for the office of a bishop a man must be above reproach; he must be only married once, he must be temperate, master of himself, unruffled, hospitable, a skilled teacher,

Wymth A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to his one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable to strangers, and with a gift for teaching;

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

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

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

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

RV The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

SLT Therefore an overseer must be irreprehensible, husband of one wife, sober, of sound mind, well arranged, hospitable, giving instruction;

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

KJB-1769 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

KJB-1611 A Bishop then must be blamelesse, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, [fn]of good behauiour, giuen to hospitalitie, apt to teach;
(A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitalitie, apt to teach;)

3:2 Or, modest.

Bshps A bishop therfore must be blamelesse, the husband of one wyfe, watchyng, sober, comely apparelled, a louer of hospitalitie, apt to teache,
(A bishop therefore must be blameless, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, comely appareled, a lover of hospitalitie, apt to teache,)

Gnva A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,
(A Bishop therefore must be unreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache, )

Cvdl But a Bisshoppe must be blamelesse, the hussbade of one wife, sober, discrete, manerly, harberous, apte to teach:
(But a Bisshoppe must be blameless, the hussbade of one wife, sober, discrete, mannerly, harberous, apt to teach:)

TNT Ye and a bisshope must be fautlesse the husband of one wyfe sober discrete honestly aparelled harberous apt to teache
(Ye/You_all and a bisshope must be fautlesse the husband of one wife sober discrete honestly aparelled harberous apt to teach )

Wycl Therfor it bihoueth a byschop to be with out repreef, the hosebonde of o wijf, sobre, prudent, chast, vertewous, holdinge hospitalite, a techere;
(Therefore it behoves a byschop to be with out repreef, the husband of o wife, sobre, prudent, chast, vertewous, holdinge hospitalite, a teacher;)

Luth Es soll aber ein Bischof unsträflich sein, eines Weibes Mann, nüchtern, mäßig, sittig, gastfrei, lehrhaftig,
(It should but a Bischof blameless be, one/a woman man, sober, mäßig, sittig, gastfrei, lehrhaftig,)

ClVg Oportet ergo episcopum irreprehensibilem esse, unius uxoris virum, sobrium, prudentem, ornatum, pudicum, hospitalem, doctorem,[fn]
(Oportet therefore episcopum irreprehensibilem to_be, of_one wife's husband, sobrium, prudentem, ornatum, pudicum, hospitalem, doctorem, )

3.2 Irreprehensibilem. Idem quod ad Titum, sine crimine. Res pene contra naturam, ut sine peccato: sed eligatur, cujus comparatio cæteri grex dicantur. Unius uxoris virum, etc. Id est monogamum post baptismum. Si enim et ante conjugem habuit quæ obierit, non ei imputatur, cui prorsus novo, nec stupra, nec alia quæ ante fuerunt jam obsunt. Sobrium, etc. Ministri templi prohibentur vinum et siceram bibere, ne ebrietate graventur corda eorum, et ut sensus vigeat, semper tenuis sit.

3.2 Irreprehensibilem. Idem that to Titum, without crime. Res almost/nearly on_the_contrary nature, as without sin: but eligatur, whose comparison the_rest flock let_them_be_called. Unius wife's husband, etc. That it_is monogamum after baptism. When/But_if because and before conyugem had which obierit, not/no to_him imputatur, to_whom completely new, but_not stupra, but_not other which before they_were already obsunt. Sobrium, etc. Ministers temple are_prohibited wine and siceram to_drink, not drunkenness graventur hearts their, and as sense vigeat, always thins let_it_be.

UGNT δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν,
(dei oun ton episkopon anepilaʸmpton einai, mias gunaikos andra, naʸfalion, sōfrona, kosmion, filoxenon, didaktikon,)

SBL-GNT δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν,
(dei oun ton episkopon anepilaʸmpton einai, mias gunaikos andra, naʸfalion, sōfrona, kosmion, filoxenon, didaktikon,)

RP-GNT Δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίληπτον εἶναι, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, νηφάλεον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν·
(Dei oun ton episkopon anepilaʸpton einai, mias gunaikos andra, naʸfaleon, sōfrona, kosmion, filoxenon, didaktikon;)

TC-GNT Δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον [fn]ἀνεπίληπτον εἶναι, μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα, [fn]νηφάλεον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν·
(Dei oun ton episkopon anepilaʸpton einai, mias gunaikos andra, naʸfaleon, sōfrona, kosmion, filoxenon, didaktikon; )

3:2 ανεπιληπτον ¦ ανεπιλημπτον CT

3:2 νηφαλεον ¦ νηφαλιον ANT CT PCK SCR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–16: Paul described the sort of people who should lead a community of believers

In this section, Paul described the qualifications for Christian leaders, those who lead a group of believers.

This section can be divided into three paragraphs:

Paragraph 3:1–7: The sort of people who should be overseers

Paragraph 3:8–13: The sort of people who should be deacons

Paragraph 3:14–16: The reason Paul wrote this letter to Timothy

Paragraph 3:1–7

In this paragraph Paul told Timothy the qualities that a person needed to have in order to become an “overseer.” An overseer was someone who led and taught a group of believers.

3:2a

An overseer, then, must be above reproach,

That is why each overseer must be someone whom others cannot fault.
Therefore, an overseer must behave so well that no one can truthfully accuse him of doing wrong.

An overseer: Even though Paul used the singular form overseer here, he was not saying that there was always only one overseer per church. He was describing the qualities that each overseer needed to have. In some languages it may be better to use plural forms here and in the rest of the list. For example, it may be better to say “overseers must be above reproach” rather than to say “the overseer must be above reproach.”

then: The Greek word oun that the BSB translates as then normally means “therefore.” It is not a time word. Paul used this word to begin the list of the character qualities a person should have if he wanted to become an overseer. Since it was noble to want to be an overseer, such people needed to fulfill certain qualifications. Another way to translate this connection could be “because of that,”

must be above reproach: Paul said that overseers should behave well so that no one would be able to accuse them of doing something wrong. They should be people whom other people respected as men who behaved in a godly way. This word is also used in 5:7b and 6:14b.

3:2b

the husband of but one wife,

He must be a faithful husband,
He must be a man who does not have sex with anyone other than with his wife.

the husband of but one wife: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the husband of but one wife literally says “a one-wife husband” or “a one-woman man.” Scholars interpret this in two main ways:There is a third interpretation followed by the NRSV, that is, an overseer must only be married once.

An overseer must not be married to more than one woman at the same time; that is, he must not be polygamous. For example, the GNT says:
he must have only one wife (BSB, GNT, NIV, RSV, GW, NCV, KJV, NASB, REB, NET)
An overseer must not have sex with anyone other than his wife; that is, he must not commit adultery. Many commentaries follow this interpretation. For example, the NLT says:
faithful to his wife (NLT, CEV)

Either of these interpretations is possible. If an elder was not faithful to his wife, people would criticize him or criticize the church. So Paul wanted each church leader to be faithful to his wife. However, interpretation (2) is followed by several English versions. You may wish to follow the same interpretation as the version most in use in your area. It is recommended that whichever interpretation you choose, you mention the other in a footnote.

It is also important to notice that the same Greek expression is used in Titus 1:6. Make sure that you translate both passages the same way.

3:2c

temperate, self-controlled,

restrained, self-disciplined,
He must be able to control how he behaves in all situations.

temperate: The Greek word that the BSB translates as temperate means “behaving in a sober, restrained manner.”Louw and Nida (88.87) on nēphalios It often refers to not drinking too much alcohol. But most commentators agree that the meaning is more general here. It includes not getting drunk, but it also refers to not losing control of oneself in any other way. The same word is used in 3:11c and Titus 2:2.

self-controlled: The Greek word that the BSB translates as self-controlled means “being sensible and moderate in one’s behavior.”Louw and Nida (88.94) on sōphrōn It describes a person who thinks and acts wisely. Because the overseer is in control of himself, he is able to act calmly and appropriately in every situation. This word is also used to describe an overseer in Titus 1:8. It also occurs in Titus 2:2, 2:5–6, 2:12.

These two words translated temperate and self-controlled mean almost the same thing. They both refer to a person who can control the way in which he reacts to things or situations. Both words also occur together in Titus 2:2. Paul probably used both words together to emphasize that an overseer should be in control of himself in every area of his life. So, if you do not have two words to use in your translation, you could combine them and say:

he should be self-controlled in everything he does

3:2d

respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

respected, kind to strangers, a good teacher,
He must be a person whom people respect. He must be ready to welcome guests into his home. He must be able to teach God’s message well.

respectable: The Greek word that the BSB translates as respectable means “orderly,” “well-behaved,” or “virtuous.” It means that other people value and admire a person who is respectable.

hospitable: The Greek word that the BSB translates as hospitable literally means “loving strangers.” An overseer must be a person who welcomes guests into his home. He may also give guests food or a place to stay for the night. This word is also used in Titus 1:8.

able to teach: An overseer must be a person who is able to teach believers what Scripture means. The Greek word that the BSB translates as able to teach is also used in 2 Timothy 2:24.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: δεῖ Οὖν τόν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι μιᾶς γυναικός ἄνδρα νηφάλιον σώφρονα κόσμιον φιλόξενον διδακτικόν)

Here, the word Therefore introduces an inference based on what Paul said in the previous verse about how “overseership” is a “good work.” Since it is a good work, the people who do the work need to have certain qualifications. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of inference. Alternate translation: [So then,] or [Since overseership is a good work,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

τὸν ἐπίσκοπον

The word overseer represents overseers in general, not one particular overseer. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [for each overseer]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα

˱of˲_one (Some words not found in SR-GNT: δεῖ Οὖν τόν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι μιᾶς γυναικός ἄνδρα νηφάλιον σώφρονα κόσμιον φιλόξενον διδακτικόν)

Here, the phrase a husband of one wife could indicate that an overseer: (1) must be sexually faith to one woman, his wife. Alternate translation: [a man who is faithful to his wife] (2) must have no more than one wife at a time. Alternate translation: [a husband of only one wife at a time] (3) must have been married no more than once, even if the marriage ended in divorce or death. Alternate translation: [a man who has been married only once]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

νηφάλιον, σώφρονα

sober sensible

The terms temperate and self-controlled mean similar things. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [very self-controlled] or [completely temperate]