Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

3 Stedfast [is] the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth;

² it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

³ not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money,

⁴ his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity,

⁵ (and if any one his own house [how] to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?)

⁶ not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil;

⁷ and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

⁸ Ministrants -- in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre,

⁹ having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience,

¹⁰ and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable.

¹¹ Women -- in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things.

¹² Ministrants -- let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,

¹³ for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that [is] in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon,

¹⁵ and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth [thee] to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God -- a pillar and foundation of the truth,

¹⁶ and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

4 And the Spirit expressly speaketh, that in latter times shall certain fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons,

² in hypocrisy speaking lies, being seared in their own conscience,

³ forbidding to marry -- to abstain from meats that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those believing and acknowledging the truth,

⁴ because every creature of God [is] good, and nothing [is] to be rejected, with thanksgiving being received,

⁵ for it is sanctified through the word of God and intercession.

⁶ These things placing before the brethren, thou shalt be a good ministrant of Jesus Christ, being nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching, which thou didst follow after,

⁷ and the profane and old women's fables reject thou, and exercise thyself unto piety,

⁸ for the bodily exercise is unto little profit, and the piety is to all things profitable, a promise having of the life that now is, and of that which is coming;

⁹ stedfast [is] the word, and of all acceptation worthy;

¹⁰ for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men -- especially of those believing.

¹¹ Charge these things, and teach;

¹² let no one despise thy youth, but a pattern become thou of those believing in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity;

¹³ till I come, give heed to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching;

¹⁴ be not careless of the gift in thee, that was given thee through prophecy, with laying on of the hands of the eldership;

¹⁵ of these things be careful; in these things be, that thy advancement may be manifest in all things;

¹⁶ take heed to thyself, and to the teaching; remain in them, for this thing doing, both thyself thou shalt save, and those hearing thee.