1 T he word faithful: if any one aspires to exercise oversight, he desires a good work.

2 T he overseer then must be irreproachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, decorous, hospitable, apt to teach;

3 n ot given to excesses from wine, not a striker, but mild, not addicted to contention, not fond of money,

4 c onducting his own house well, having children in subjection with all gravity;

5 ( but if one does not know how to conduct his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of God?)

6 n ot a novice, that he may not, being inflated, fall into fault of the devil.

7 B ut it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and snare of the devil.

8 M inisters, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,

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

10 A nd let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge.

11 w omen in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 L et ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting children and their own houses well:

13 f or those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which in Christ Jesus.

14 T hese things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly;

15 b ut if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's house, which is assembly of living God, pillar and base of the truth.

16 A nd confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among nations, has been believed on in world, has been received up in glory.