Church Officials
1 It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. 2 That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. 3 They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.
4 Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. 5 If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?
6 They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil. 7 Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.
Church Officers
8 Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. 9 And they must have a clear conscience and hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith. 10 They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.
11 Women must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do.
12 Church officers must be faithful in marriage. They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home. 13 Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Our Religion
14 I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, 15 so if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
16 Here is the great mystery of our religion:
Christ came as a human.
The Spirit proved
that he pleased God,
and he was seen by angels.
Christ was preached
to the nations.
People in this world
put their faith in him,
and he was taken up to glory.
1 This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a worthie worke. 2 A Bishop therefore must be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, temperate, modest, harberous, apt to teache, 3 Not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gentle, no fighter, not couetous, 4 One that can rule his owne house honestly, hauing children vnder obedience with all honestie. 5 For if any cannot rule his owne house, how shall he care for the Church of God? 6 He may not be a yong scholer, lest he being puffed vp fall into the condemnation of the deuill. 7 He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill. 8 Likewise must Deacons be graue, not double tongued, not giuen vnto much wine, neither to filthy lucre, 9 Hauing the mysterie of the faith in pure conscience. 10 And let them first be proued: then let them minister, if they be found blameles. 11 Likewise their wiues must be honest, not euill speakers, but sober, and faithfull in all things. 12 Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife, and such as can rule their children well, and their owne housholdes. 13 For they that haue ministred well, get them selues a good degree, and great libertie in the faith, which is in Christ Iesus. 14 These things write I vnto thee, trusting to come very shortly vnto thee. 15 But if I tary long, that thou maist yet know, how thou oughtest to behaue thy self in ye house of God, which is the Church of the liuing God, the pillar and ground of trueth. 16 And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.