1 Timothy 3
A bishop must be a man of good character, married to one wife, and able to manage his own household well. He should be a teacher, not prone to drunkenness or quarreling, and have a good reputation among outsiders. Deacons must also be of good character, married to one wife, and able to manage their households well, while their wives must be chaste, not slanderers, and sober. Those who serve well will gain a good standing and confidence in their faith.
It is a faithful saying: if a man desires the episcopate, he desires a good workTherefore, it is necessary for a bishop to be beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, gracious, chaste, hospitable, a teachernot a drunkard, not combative but restrained, not quarrelsome, not covetousbut a man who leads his own house well, having children who are subordinate with all chastityFor if a man does not know how to lead his own house, how will he take care of the Church of GodHe must not be a new convert, lest, being elated by pride, he may fall under the sentence of the devilAnd it is necessary for him also to have good testimony from those who are outside, so that he may not fall into disrepute and the snare of the devilSimilarly, deacons must be chaste, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not pursuing tainted profitholding to the mystery of the faith with a pure conscienceAnd these things should be proven first, and then they may minister, being without offenseSimilarly, the women must be chaste, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all thingsDeacons should be the husband of one wife, men who lead their own children and their own houses wellFor those who have ministered well will acquire for themselves a good position, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ JesusI am writing these things to you, with the hope that I will come to you soonBut, if I am delayed, you should know the manner in which it is necessary to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of truthAnd it is clearly great, this mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh, which was justified in the Spirit, which has appeared to Angels, which has been preached to the Gentiles, which is believed in the world, which has been taken up in glory
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