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.

I Timothy 3

¹This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

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

⁶Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁸Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

⁹Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

¹¹Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

¹³For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto 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 without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.