1This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work. 2The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching; 3not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money; 4one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 5(but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) 6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

8Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money; 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless. 11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 15but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.