1 Timothy 3:12–4:5

12  Let the ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting their children and their own houses well: 13  for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14  These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee more quickly; 15  but if I delay, in order that thou mayest know how one ought to conduct oneself in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth. 16  And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in the Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among the nations, has been believed on in the world, has been received up in glory.

Chapter 4

1  But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons 2  speaking lies in hypocrisy, cauterised as to their own conscience, 3  forbidding to marry, bidding to abstain from meats, which God has created for receiving with thanksgiving for them who are faithful and know the truth. 4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, being received with thanksgiving; 5  for it is sanctified by God’s word and freely addressing him.