This is a true saying
, If a man
desire
the office of a bishop
, he desireth
a good
work
.
A bishop then
must
be
blameless
, the husband
of one
wife
, vigilant
, sober
, of good behaviour
, given to hospitality
, apt to teach
;
Not given to wine
, no
striker
, not
greedy of filthy lucre
; but
patient
, not a brawler
, not covetous
;
One that ruleth well
his own
house
, having
his children
in
subjection
with
all
gravity
;
(For if a man
know
not
how
to rule
his own
house
, how
shall he take care of
the church
of God
?)
Not a novice
, lest
being lifted up with pride
he fall
into
the condemnation
of the devil
.
Moreover he
must
have
a good
report
of
them which are without
; lest
he fall
into
reproach
and
the snare
of the devil
.
Likewise must the deacons
be grave
, not
doubletongued
, not
given
to much
wine
, not
greedy of filthy lucre
;
Holding the mystery
of the faith
in
a pure
conscience
.
And let
these
also
first
be proved
; then
let them use the office of a deacon
, being
found blameless
.
Even so must their wives
be grave
, not
slanderers
, sober
, faithful
in
all things
.
Let the deacons
be
the husbands
of one
wife
, ruling
their children
and
their own
houses
well
.
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
.
These things write I
unto thee
, hoping
to come
unto
thee
shortly
:
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
.
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
.