1 Timothy 3:8–16

^8aDeacons likewise must be men of dignity, not ¹double-tongued, ^2bor addicted to much wine ^cor fond of sordid gain,

^9abut holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

^10aThese men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

¹¹¹Women must likewise be dignified, ^anot malicious gossips, but ^btemperate, faithful in all things.

^12aDeacons must be ^bhusbands of only one wife, and ^1cgood managers of their children and their own households.

¹³For those who have served well as deacons ^aobtain for themselves a ¹high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

¹⁵but ¹in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how ²one ought to conduct himself in ^athe household of God, which is the ^bchurch of ^cthe living God, the ^dpillar and support of the truth.

¹⁶By common confession, great is ^athe mystery of godliness:

He who was ^brevealed in the flesh,

Was ^1cvindicated ²in the Spirit,

^dSeen by angels,

^eProclaimed among the nations,

^fBelieved on in the world,

^gTaken up in glory.