| 1 | This [is] a true saying , If a man desire the office of a bishop , he desireth a good work . |
| 2 | A bishop then must be blameless , the husband of one wife , vigilant , sober , of good behaviour , given to hospitality , apt to teach ; |
| 3 | Not given to wine , no striker , not greedy of filthy lucre ; but patient , not a brawler , not covetous ; |
| 4 | One 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 ?) |
| 6 | Not a novice , lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil . |
| 7 | Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil . |
| 8 | Likewise [must] the deacons [be] grave , not doubletongued , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre ; |
| 9 | Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience . |
| 10 | And let these also first be proved ; then let them use the office of a deacon , being [found] blameless . |
| 11 | Even so [must their] wives [be] grave , not slanderers , sober , faithful in all things . |
| 12 | Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife , ruling their children and their own houses well . |
| 13 | For 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 . |
| 14 | These things write I unto thee , hoping to come unto thee shortly : |
| 15 | But 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 . |
| 16 | And 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 . |
