1 Timothy 3

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

2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt at teaching;

3. not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4. one who ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity.

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

6. He must not be a novice in the faith, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7. Moreover he must have a good reputation with those who are outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8. Likewise must the deacons be serious, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for filthy lucre,

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

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

11. So also must their wives be serious, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12. Let each deacon be the husband of one wife, ruling his children and his own house well.

13. For those who have ministered the office of deacon well purchase for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

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

15. but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought 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 beyond controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.