I Timothy 3

¹It is a faithful saying: if a man desires the episcopate, he desires a good work.

²Therefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teacher,

³not a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

⁴but a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastity.

⁵For if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God?

⁶He must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devil.

⁷And 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.

⁸Similarly, deacons must be chaste, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not pursuing tainted profit,

⁹holding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

¹⁰And these things should be proven first, and then they may minister, being without offense.

¹¹Similarly, the women must be chaste, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹²Deacons should be the husband of one wife, men who lead their own children and their own houses well.

¹³For those who have ministered well will acquire for themselves a good position, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴I am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soon.

¹⁵But, 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.

¹⁶And 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.

I Timothy 3

¹A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth good work.

²It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,

³Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but

⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.

⁵But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

⁶Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.

⁷Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁸Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

⁹Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.

¹⁰And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.

¹¹The women in like manner: chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.

¹²Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children and their own houses.

¹³For they that have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall come to thee shortly.

¹⁵But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

¹⁶And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.