1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate {vigilant}, sober minded, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, not violent {no striker}, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?); 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover, he must have a good report of them who are outside {without}, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8In like manner must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober minded, faithful in all things. 12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good standing {degree}, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the nations {Gentiles}, believed on in the world, received up into glory.