1 Timothy 3

1 certain, if any one is desirous of the episcopal office, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, grave, 3 hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome, 4 not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (for if any know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 The deacons likewise grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain, 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 (And let these also first be proved, then let them take the office of deacons, if they be blameless.) 11 wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all 12 Let the deacons be husbands of one wife governing their children and their own houses well. 13 For they, that discharge the office of a deacon well, gain to themselves a good degree and much freedom in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 These things I write unto thee, hoping to come to thee shortly. 15 But if I be retarded, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave in the house of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in flesh, justified in Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.