13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 However she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
CHAP. 3.
This is a true saying, If a man desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober minded, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; [1]
3 Not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; [2]
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. [3]
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them who are outside the church ; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober minded, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. [4]
14 These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. [5]
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
CHAP. 4.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by them who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it is received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather to godliness.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. [6]
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.
11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [7]
16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
CHAP. 5.
Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow hath children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to repay their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. [8]
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
