1Timothy:3:1-15
Seeker Overlay ON
*
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 .