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1 Timothy 3 (AMP)

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¹ THE SAYING is true and irrefutable: If any man seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work). ² Now a bishop (superintendent, overseer) must give no grounds for accusation but must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, circumspect and temperate and self-controlled; sensible and well behaved and dignified and lead an orderly (disciplined) life; hospitable a capable and qualified teacher, ³ Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money . ⁴ He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful. ⁵ For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God? ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or he may as the result of pride fall into the condemnation that the devil did. ⁷ Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside , lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. ⁸ In like manner the deacons worthy of respect, not shifty and double-talkers but sincere in what they say, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain . ⁹ They must possess the mystic secret of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve . ¹¹ women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, trustworthy in all things. ¹² Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that, ¹⁵ If I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth. ¹⁶ And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.