1Faithful is the saying, If any man aspires to supervision, he desires a good work. 2The overseer therefore must be blameless, the husband of one wife, without wine, serious minded, disciplined, loving strangers, able to teach, 3no drunkard, not a fighter, not greedy of base gain, but meek, noncontentious, no lover of money, 4a man who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all propriety 5(but if any man knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of a congregation of God?), 6not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7And he must also have good testimony from those outside, lest he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8Helpers likewise, be honorable, not double-tongued, not attending to much wine, not greedy of base gain, 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proven, then being blameless, let them serve as deacons. 11The wives likewise, be honorable, not slanderous, without wine, faithful in all things. 12Let helpers be husbands of one wife, ruling children and their own houses well. 13For those who serve well will acquire to themselves a good standing, and much boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus. 14These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee sooner, 15but if I delay, that thou may know how it is necessary to live in a house of God, which is a congregation of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16And without controversy great is the mystery of piety. God was manifested in flesh, justified in spirit, seen by heavenly agents, proclaimed among nations, believed in the world, taken up in glory.