1Tim 3
1
Faithful is this word: If anyone aspires to the position of a bishop, he desires a
good work.
2
It is necessary, therefore, for a bishop to be irreproachable, the husband of one
wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful at teaching;
3
not given to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome,
not loving money;
4
one ruling his own house well, having [his] children in submission with all reverence;
5
(for if one does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the
church of God?);
6
not a new convert, lest being puffed up [with pride] he fall into the [same] condemnation
as the devil.
7
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those outside, lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil.
8
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine,
not greedy for money,
9
holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10
But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being irreproachable.
11
Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all
things.
12
Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children well, and their own
houses.
13
For those who have served well as deacons obtain a standing for themselves and much
boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15
but if I am delayed, [I write] so that you may know how it is necessary to conduct
oneself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
bulwark of the truth.
16
And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among [the ]Gentiles, believed
on in the world, [and ]was received up in glory.