1 This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work. 2 The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching; 3 not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 5 (for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?) 6 not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. 11 Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things. 12 Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly, 15 but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:

God was revealed in the flesh,

justified in the spirit,

seen by angels,

preached among the nations,

believed on in the world,

and received up in glory.

1 The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop [to be a pastor or elder in the church], he desires a difficult ministry.

2 It is expedient, therefore, that the bishop be blameless, the husband of [only] one wife, vigilant, temperate, of [worldly] affections mortified, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;

4 one that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all integrity;

5 (for if a man does not know 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 judgment of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Likewise the deacons [must be] honest, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain;

9 holding the mystery of the faith [together] with a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them minister, if they are blameless.

11 The wives likewise [are to be] honest, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of [only] one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For those that minister well purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly

15 But if I tarry long, that thou may know how it is expedient to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.

16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.: