1This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthy work.
2A Bishop therefore must be unreproveable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harborous, apt to teach,
3Not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not covetous.
4One that can rule his own house honestly, having children under obedience with all honesty.
5For if any cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the Church of God?
6He may not be a young scholar, lest he being puffed up fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7He must also be well reported of, even of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must Deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given unto much wine, neither to filthy lucre,
9Having the mystery of the faith in pure conscience.
10And let them first be proved, then let them minister, if they be found blameless.
11Likewise their wives must be honest, not evil speakers, but sober, and faithful in all things.
12Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their own households.
13For they that have ministered well, get themselves a good decree, and great liberty in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
14These things write I unto thee, trusting to come very shortly unto thee.
15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest yet 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 truth.
16And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.