< 1 Timothy 3 >

1 This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a good work.
It is a faithful saying: if a man desires the episcopate, he desires a good work.
2 The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching;
Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher,
3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
not a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
but a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastity.
5 (but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
For if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God?
6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
He must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
And it is necessary for him also to have good testimony from those who are outside, so that he may not fall into disrepute and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;
Similarly, deacons must be chaste, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not pursuing tainted profit,
9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
holding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless.
And these things should be proven first, and then they may minister, being without offense.
11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Similarly, the women must be chaste, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Deacons should be the husband of one wife, men who lead their own children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For those who have ministered well will acquire for themselves a good position, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
I am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soon.
15 but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But, if I am delayed, you should know the manner in which it is necessary to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of truth.
16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
And it is clearly great, this mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh, which was justified in the Spirit, which has appeared to Angels, which has been preached to the Gentiles, which is believed in the world, which has been taken up in glory.

< 1 Timothy 3 >