3:1 | This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. |
3:2 | A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, able to teach; |
3:3 | not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; |
3:4 | one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence |
3:5 | (because, if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); |
3:6 | not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. |
3:7 | Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. |
3:8 | Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double tongued, not slaves to wine bingeing, not greedy for money, |
3:9 | holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. |
3:10 | But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. |
3:11 | Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. |
3:12 | Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. |
3:13 | Because, those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. |
3:14 | These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; |
3:15 | but if I am delayed, so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. |
3:16 | And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. |