1 S tedfast the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 i t behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 n ot given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 h is own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

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

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

6 n ot a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 a nd 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.

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 M inistrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 h aving the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 a nd let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 W omen -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 M inistrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

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

13 f or those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that in Christ Jesus.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

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

15 a nd if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation of the truth,

But 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.

16 a nd, 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!

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.