1 Timothy 3 - New Testament in Braid Scots 1904 (William Wye Smith)

CHAPTIR THRIE. Anent Bishops and Deacons iʼ the Kirk, and whatna men they soud be.

¹ It is unco true, “Gin a man seeks for a Bishopʼs place, he seeks a gude wark!”

² It is necessar, than, that the Bishop be aboon reproach, the husband oʼ ae wife, douce, oʼ sober mind, behavin weel, hospitable, skilfuʼ in teachin,

³ No gien to wine, nae striker; but thochtfuʼ, again contention, no glaumin eftir siller;

⁴ Bearin rule weel in his ain hoose, haein bairns in submission wiʼ aʼ propriety;

⁵ For gin ane kens‐na hoo to preside ower his ain hoose, hoo sal he tak chairge oʼ the Kirk oʼ God?

⁶ No a new convert; least, bein swalled‐up, he faʼ intil the condemnation oʼ Sautan.

⁷ And mair: he maun hae a gude testimonie frae thae oot‐by, least he fuʼ intil reproach, and the snare oʼ the adversary.

⁸ And Deacons maun be grave; wiʼ aefauld tongue, no gien to mickle wine, no greedy oʼ cankerʼt gain;

⁹ Haudin the mysterie oʼ the faith wiʼ a clean conscience.

¹⁰ And lat thir, as weel, be first testit; then lat them tak service, bein fund wyteless.

¹¹ The wives, iʼ the same way, grave; no gien to slander; douce, leal in aʼ things.

¹² Lat the Deacons be husbands oʼ ae wife, airtin their bairns weel, and their ain hooses.

¹³ For thae wha weel hae serʼt, win to their sels a gude staunin, and mickle freedom oʼ speech iʼ the faith, that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ Thir things I write to ye; lookin forrit to comin till ye sune.

¹⁵ But, gin aiblins I soud delay, that ye may ken hoo it is necessar iʼ the hoose oʼ God to conduct aneʼs sel, whilk in truth is the Kirk oʼ the Leevin God, the pillar and grund?-?waʼ‐stane oʼ the truth.

¹⁶ And, ayont aʼ doot, great is the mysterie oʼ godliness! He was made kent iʼ the flesh, declarʼt richtous by the Spirit, seen oʼ Angels, was preached amang the nations, was lippened on iʼ the warld, was taen up in glorie!