1 Faithful is the saying: If a man seeks the office of overseer, he desires a good work.

2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate in habits, sound in mind, orderly, hospitable, qualified to teach;

3 not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

4 one who manages well his own house, having his children in subjection with all seriousness;

5 if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the congregation of God?

6 He should not be a new believer, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

7 He must have a good reputation with those outside the congregation, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.

8 Ministerial servants should likewise be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain.

9 They should maintain the secret of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 Let these be tested first. Then let them serve as servants, if they are blameless.

11 Women in like manner must be serious, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For they that have served well as servants gain to themselves a good standing and great confidence boldness of speech in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

15 though if I am delayed, so that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the household of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

16 The secret of godliness is great and it is without controversy. ‘He Jesus Christ was manifested revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and seen by angels. He preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and received up in glory.’