1 Timothy 3:1-13 (Epistle)
- 1
- This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
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- A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
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- not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
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- one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
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- (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
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- not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
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- Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
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- Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
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- holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
- 10
- But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
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- Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
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- Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
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- For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.