1 Timothy

3* The saying is a trustworthy one, “If one has an inclination to a visitor’s place, he is desiring a good work.” 2 So the church visitor must be unimpeachable, husband of one wife, sober, discreet, well-behaved, hospitable, good at teaching, 3 not disorderly over his wine, not apt to come to blows, but reasonable, one who keeps out of fights, who has no love for money, 4 who manages his own household well, having children behaving submissively with all correctness 5 (but if one does not know how to manage his own household, how is he to take care of God’s church?); 6** not a new convert, so that he may not get his head turned and fall under the judgment of gossip. 7* And he must also have good attestation from the outsiders, so that he may not fall under the gibes of gossip and into its trap. 8 Deacons, in the same way, dignified, not double-tongued, not interested in much wine, not mercenary, 9 holding the secret of the faith in a clean conscience; 10 and let these too be investigated first, then let them serve as deacons when of unblemished reputation. 11 Women, in the same way, dignified, not scandalmongers, sober, reliable in everything. 12 Let deacons be husbands of one wife who manage their children and their own households well. 13 For those who have done good service as deacons are securing for themselves a good standing and great boldness in faith in Christ Jesus.

14 I am writing you this in hopes of coming to you pretty soon; 15 but if I am long about it, in order that you may know how one has to behave in God’s household, which the church of the living God, pillar and foothold of the truth, is. 16* And, recognizedly, piety’s secret is a great one: “he who was manifested in flesh, was vindicated in spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed in the world, was taken up in glory.”