1 F aithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

¶ The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop, he desires a difficult ministry.

2 T he bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

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 n o brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;

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

4 o ne that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

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

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

(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the congregation of God?)

6 n ot a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

not a novice, lest being puffed up, he fall into judgment of the devil.

7 M oreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

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

8 D eacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

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

9 h olding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

holding the mystery of the faith together with a pure conscience.

10 A nd let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

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

11 W omen in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

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

12 L et deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

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

13 F or they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

14 T hese things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;

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

15 b ut 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.

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

16 A nd 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.

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.