| 1 | The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. |
| 2 | Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, |
| 3 | not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. |
| 4 | He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way — |
| 5 | for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? |
| 6 | He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. |
| 7 | Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. |
| 8 | Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money; |
| 9 | they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. |
| 10 | And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons. |
| 11 | Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. |
| 12 | Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well; |
| 13 | for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. |
| 14 | I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, |
| 15 | if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. |
| 16 | Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. |