1Faithful is the saying , If a man seeketh the office of a bishop , he desireth a good work . 2The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife , temperate , sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality , apt to teach ; 3no brawler, no striker ; but gentle , not contentious, no lover of money; 4one that ruleth well his own house , having his children in subjection with all gravity ; 5( but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house , how shall he take care of the church of God ?) 6not a novice , lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil . 7Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil .
Qualifications for Deacons
8Deacons in like manner must be grave , not double-tongued , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre; 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience . 10And let these also first be proved ; then let them serve as deacons , if they be blameless. 11Women in like manner must be grave , not slanderers , temperate , faithful in all things . 12Let deacons be husbands of one wife , ruling their children and their own houses well . 13For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus .
The Mystery of Godliness
14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly ; 15but 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. 16And 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 .