rsv 1Timothy:3-4 SEEK
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The saying is sure :
If any one aspires to the office of bishop ,
he desires a noble task .
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Now a bishop must be above reproach ,
the husband of one wife ,
temperate ,
sensible ,
dignified ,
hospitable ,
an apt teacher ,
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no drunkard ,
not violent but gentle ,
not quarrelsome ,
and no lover of money .
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He must manage his own household well ,
keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way ;
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for if a man does not know how to manage his own household ,
how can he care for God '
s church ?
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He must not be a recent convert ,
or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil ;
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moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders ,
or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil .
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Deacons likewise must be serious ,
not double-tongued ,
not addicted to much wine ,
not greedy for gain ;
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they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience .
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And let them also be tested first ;
then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons .
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The women likewise must be serious ,
no slanderers ,
but temperate ,
faithful in all things .
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Let deacons be the husband of one wife ,
and let them manage their children and their households well ;
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for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus .
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I hope to come to you soon ,
but I am writing these instructions to you so that ,
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if I am delayed ,
you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God ,
which is the church of the living God ,
the pillar and bulwark of the truth .
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Great indeed ,
we confess ,
is the mystery of our religion :
He was manifested in the flesh ,
vindicated in the Spirit ,
seen by angels ,
preached among the nations ,
believed on in the world ,
taken up in glory .
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Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ,
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through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared ,
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who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth .
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For everything created by God is good ,
and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving ;
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for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer .
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If you put these instructions before the brethren ,
you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus ,
nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed .
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Have nothing to do with godless and silly myths .
Train yourself in godliness ;
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for while bodily training is of some value ,
godliness is of value in every way ,
as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come .
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The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance .
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For to this end we toil and strive ,
because we have our hope set on the living God ,
who is the Savior of all men ,
especially of those who believe .
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Command and teach these things .
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Let no one despise your youth ,
but set the believers an example in speech and conduct ,
in love ,
in faith ,
in purity .
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Till I come ,
attend to the public reading of scripture ,
to preaching ,
to teaching .
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Do not neglect the gift you have ,
which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you .
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Practice these duties ,
devote yourself to them ,
so that all may see your progress .
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Take heed to yourself and to your teaching ;
hold to that ,
for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers .
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Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father ;
treat younger men like brothers ,