1 Fiel é a palavra: se alguém aspira ao episcopado, excelente obra almeja. 2 É necessário, portanto, que o bispo seja irrepreensível, esposo de uma só mulher, temperante, sóbrio, modesto, hospitaleiro, apto para ensinar; 3 não dado ao vinho, não violento, porém cordato, inimigo de contendas, não avarento; 4 e que governe bem a própria casa, criando os filhos sob disciplina, com todo o respeito 5 (pois, se alguém não sabe governar a própria casa, como cuidará da igreja de Deus?); 6 não seja neófito, para não suceder que se ensoberbeça e incorra na condenação do diabo. 7 Pelo contrário, é necessário que ele tenha bom testemunho dos de fora, a fim de não cair no opróbrio e no laço do diabo.

1 Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3 no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; 4 one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full "respect.

5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.