¹Stedfast is the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; ²it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach, ³not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money, ⁴his 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?) ⁶not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil; ⁷and 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.

⁸Ministrants—in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre, ⁹having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience, ¹⁰and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable. ¹¹Women—in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things. ¹²Ministrants—let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses, ¹³for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon, ¹⁵and 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, ¹⁶and, 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!

Chapter 4

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