[1] This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. [2] An overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach; [3] not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money, but patient, not argumentative, not covetous; [4] and one who manages his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. [5] For if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? [6] He must not be newly converted, so that he does not become prideful and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover he must have a good reputation among those who are outsiders, so that he does not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. [8] Likewise deacons must be serious, not insincere, not given to much wine, not greedy, [9] keeping the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. [10] And let them first be tested; then, being found blameless, let them serve as deacons. [11] Likewise, their wives must be serious, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things. [12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own houses well. [13] For those who have served well in the office of deacon purchase for themselves good standing and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus. [14] I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you shortly, [15] but if I am delayed, you might know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. [16] Without question, great is the mystery of godliness: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.
