^{1 Ref} Stedfast `is' the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

^{2 Ref} it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

^{3 Ref} not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

^{4 Ref} his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

^{5 Ref} (and if any one his own house `how' to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

^{6 Ref} not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

^{7 Ref} and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

^{8 Ref} Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

^{9 Ref} having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

^{10 Ref} and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

^{11 Ref} Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

^{12 Ref} Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

^{13 Ref} for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that `is' in Christ Jesus.

^{14 Ref} These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

^{15 Ref} and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth `thee' to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation of the truth,

^{16 Ref} and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

^{1 Ref} Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

^{2 Ref} The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

^{3 Ref} no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

^{4 Ref} one that ruleth well his own house, having `his' children in subjection with all gravity;

^{5 Ref} (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

^{6 Ref} not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

^{7 Ref} Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

^{8 Ref} Deacons in like manner `must be' grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

^{9 Ref} holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

^{10 Ref} And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

^{11 Ref} Women in like manner `must be' grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

^{12 Ref} Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling `their' children and their own houses well.

^{13 Ref} For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^{14 Ref} These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

^{15 Ref} but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

^{16 Ref} And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

^{1 Ref} This is a true saying, A man desiring the position of a Bishop has a desire for a good work.

^{2 Ref} The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher;

^{3 Ref} Not quickly moved to wrath or blows, but gentle; no fighter, no lover of money;

^{4 Ref} Ruling his house well, having his children under control with all serious behaviour;

^{5 Ref} (For if a man has not the art of ruling his house, how will he take care of the church of God?)

^{6 Ref} Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One.

^{7 Ref} And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One.

^{8 Ref} Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world;

^{9 Ref} Keeping the secret of the faith in a heart free from sin.

^{10 Ref} And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them.

^{11 Ref} Women are to be serious in behaviour, saying no evil of others, controlling themselves, true in all things.

^{12 Ref} Let Deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their houses well.

^{13 Ref} For those who have done good work as Deacons get for themselves a good position and become free from fear in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^{14 Ref} I am writing these things to you, though I am hoping to come to you before long;

^{15 Ref} But if I am long in coming, this will make clear to you what behaviour is right for men in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of what is true.

^{16 Ref} And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.