¹ Stedfast is the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

² it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

³ not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

⁴ his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

⁵ (and if any one his own house how to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

⁶ not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

⁷ and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

⁸ Ministrants--in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

⁹ having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

¹⁰ and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

¹¹ Women--in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

¹² Ministrants--let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

¹³ for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

¹⁵ and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God--a pillar and foundation of the truth,

¹⁶ and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!