1 Timothy 3
1 2 3 4 5 6
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?) 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.
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