|
Chapter 3 |
| 1 | This is a true
saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
|
| 2 | A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; |
| 3 | Not
given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a
brawler, not covetous; |
| 4 | One 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?)
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| 6 | Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. |
|
7 | Moreover he must have a good report of
them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the
devil. |
| 8 |
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not
given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; |
| 9 | Holding the
mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. |
|
10 | And let these also
first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found
blameless. |
| 11
| Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober,
faithful in all things. |
| 12 | Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife,
ruling their children and their own houses well. |
| 13 | 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 |
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: |
| 15 |
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 | 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. |
