CHAPTER II.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL, WIDOWS, ELDERS, SERVANTS, ETC.
1 3:1IT is a true saying, If any one desires an episcopate he desires a good work. 3:2It is necessary therefore that a bishop should be blameless, a husband of one wife, circumspect, sober, well-behaved, hospitable, apt to teach, 3:3not a wine-drinker, not a quarrelsome man, but gentle, not contentious, not avaricious, 3:4ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity,— 3:5but if any one knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?— 3:6not a novice, lest being inflated with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 3:7And he must also have a good name from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.
2 3:8The deacons in like manner ought to be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not devoted to base gain, 3:9having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 3:10And let these be proved first, then let them serve, being found blameless. 3:11The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things. 3:12Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses. 3:13For they who exercise the deaconship well, procure for themselves an honorable standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3 3:14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 3:15but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 3:16And confessedly great is the mystery of piety; [Christ,] who was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen by angels, was preached to the nations, was believed on in the world, was received up into glory.
4 4:1But the Spirit says expressly, that in the last times some shall apostatize from the faith, attending to lying spirits and doctrines of demons, 4:2[misled] by the hypocrisy of false teachers, whose consciences are cauterized, 4:3who forbid to marry, [command] to abstain from meat, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and those who know the truth. 4:4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected, [but] to be received with thanksgiving; 4:5for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
5 4:6Suggesting these things to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and the good instruction which you have followed; 4:7but avoid profane and silly myths; exercise yourself in piety; 4:8for bodily exercise profits little; but piety is profitable in all things, having a promise of the present life and of the life to come. 4:9It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 4:10For to this end we also labor and suffer reproach, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.
6 4:11These things command and teach. 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the faithful, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 4:13Till I come attend to reading, exhortation, teaching. 4:14Neglect not the gift which is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the imposition of hands of the eldership. 4:15Study these things, be much in them, that your improvement may be manifest to all. 4:16Attend to yourself, and to teaching; continue in it, for doing this you will both save yourself and those that hear you.
7 5:1Rebuke not an aged man, but entreat him as a father, the younger men as brothers, 5:2the aged women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. 5:3Support the widows who are widows indeed. 5:4But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5:5But one that is a widow indeed and alone hopes in God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day; 5:6but a woman that lives voluptuously is dead while she lives. 5:7And command these things, that they be blameless. 5:8And if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
8 5:9Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband, 5:10well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work. 5:11But reject the younger widows; for when they fall into pleasure to the neglect of Christ, they wish to marry, 5:12being condemned because they have rejected the first faith; 5:13and at the same time also, being idle, they learn to go from house to house, and not only are they idle, they are also tattlers and mischief makers, saying what they ought not. 5:14I wish therefore the younger women to marry, bear children, keep house, give no occasion of reproach to the enemy; 5:15for some have already turned back after Satan. 5:16If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, let them give them relief, and let not the church be burdened, that it may be able to relieve those really widows.