| 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! |