1Timothy:3-4

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* This is a true saying , If a man desire the office of a bishop , he desireth a good work . * A bishop then must be blameless , the husband of one wife , vigilant , sober , of good behaviour , given to hospitality , apt to teach ; * Not given to wine , no striker , not greedy of filthy lucre ; but patient , not a brawler , not covetous ; * One that ruleth well his own house , having his children in subjection with all gravity ; * (For if a man know not how to rule his own house , how shall he take care of the church of God ?) * Not a novice , lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil . * Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil . * Likewise must the deacons be grave , not doubletongued , not given to much wine , not greedy of filthy lucre ; * Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience . * And let these also first be proved ; then let them use the office of a deacon , being found blameless . * Even so must their wives be grave , not slanderers , sober , faithful in all things . * Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife , ruling their children and their own houses well . * 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 . * These things write I unto thee , hoping to come unto thee shortly : * 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 . * 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 . * Now the Spirit speaketh expressly , that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith , giving heed to seducing spirits , and doctrines of devils ; * Speaking lies in hypocrisy ; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ; * Forbidding to marry , and commanding to abstain from meats , which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth . * For every creature of God is good , and nothing to be refused , if it be received with thanksgiving : * For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer . * If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things , thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ , nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine , whereunto thou hast attained . * But refuse profane and old wives ' fables , and exercise thyself rather unto godliness . * For bodily exercise profiteth little : but godliness is profitable unto all things , having promise of the life that now is , and of that which is to come . * This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation . * For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach , because we trust in the living God , who is the Saviour of all men , specially of those that believe . * These things command and teach . * Let no man despise thy youth ; but be thou an example of the believers , in word , in conversation , in charity , in spirit , in faith , in purity . * Till I come , give attendance to reading , to exhortation , to doctrine . * Neglect not the gift that is in thee , which was given thee by prophecy , with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery . * Meditate upon these things ; give thyself wholly to them ; that thy profiting may appear to all . * Take heed unto thyself , and unto the doctrine ; continue in them : for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself , and them that hear thee . * Rebuke not an elder , but intreat him as a father ; and the younger men as brethren ;

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