They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Parallel translations
- WEB holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
- KJV Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
- NKJV holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
- NASB but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
- NLT They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Deacons must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. It joins sound belief to a life of integrity.
Overview
Paul requires deacons to keep 'the mystery of the faith,' the revealed gospel, with 'a pure conscience.' Right doctrine must be held by those whose lives match their confession. Faith and conscience together qualify a servant of the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Tim 1:19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
- 2 Jn 1:9–10Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
- 1 Tim 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- 1 Tim 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 3:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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