⁶ someone who is blameless, married only once,^[a] whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.^(A)

¹² Let deacons be married only once,^[a] and let them manage their children and their households well;

² Now a bishop^[a] must be above reproach, married only once,^[b] temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,^{(A) 3} not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.^{(B) 4} He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert,^[c] or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.^(C)

¹⁰ There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;^(A)

⁶ someone who is blameless, married only once,^[a] whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.^{(A) 7} For a bishop,^[b] as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain,^{(B) 8} but he must be hospitable,^[c] a lover of goodness, self-controlled, upright, devout, and restrained,

²² They shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman but only a virgin of the stock of the house of Israel or a widow who is the widow of a priest.^(A)

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.^(A)

¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,^(A)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.^(A)

¹⁵ Did God^[a] not make them one, flesh with spirit in it? And what does the one desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth.^[b](A)