< 1 Timothy 3 >
1 The word [is] steadfast: If anyone longs for overseership, he desires a right work;
This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke.
2 it is required, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, a husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, respectable, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,
A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache,
3 not given to wine, not a striker, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,
Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous,
4 leading his own house well, having children in subjection with all dignity,
One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie.
5 (and if anyone has not known [how] to lead his own house, how will he take care of an assembly of God?)
For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the Devil;
He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill.
7 and it is required of him also to have a good testimony from those outside, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the Devil.
He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.
8 Servants, in like manner, dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to shameful gain,
Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,
9 having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,
Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience.
10 and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.
And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles.
11 Women, in like manner, dignified, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things.
12 Servants—let them be husbands of one wife, leading the children well, and their own houses,
Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes.
13 for those who ministered well acquire a good step to themselves, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.
For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus.
14 I write to you these things, hoping to come to you soon,
These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee.
15 and if I delay, that you may know how it is required to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God—a pillar and foundation of the truth,
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.
16 and confessedly, great is the secret of piety: who was revealed in flesh, declared righteous in [the] Spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!
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.