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¹ This is a faithful saying, If a man desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.² A bishop therefore must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, prudent, of good behaviour, hospitable, apt to teach;³ Not given to wine, no striker, not desirous of filthy gain, but gentle, patient, not loving money;⁴ Ruling his own house well, having his children in subjection with all seriousness.⁵ For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?⁶ Not a new convert, left being puffed up, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.⁷ He ought also to have a good report from them that are without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁸ Likewise the deacons must be serious, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not desirous of filthy gain: Holding fast the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.⁹ And let these be proved first,¹⁰ then let them minister, being found blameless.¹¹ In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, faithful in all things.¹² Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.¹³ For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly:¹⁵ But if I tarry, that thou mayst know how to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.¹⁶ The mystery of godliness is the pillar and ground of the truth, and without controversy a great thing: God was manifested in the flesh, was justified by the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.