¹ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Cross refs

² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Cross refs

³ Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; Cross refs

⁴ One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; Cross refs

⁵ (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Cross refs

⁶ Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Cross refs

⁷ Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Cross refs

⁸ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Cross refs

⁹ Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. Cross refs

¹⁰ And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Cross refs

¹¹ Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Cross refs

¹² Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Cross refs

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. Cross refs

¹⁴ These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: Cross refs

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. Cross refs

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. Cross refs