Qualifications for Overseers
(Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4)

1It is certain, if any one is desirous of the episcopal office, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave, 3hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome, 4not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(for if any one know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons
(Acts 6:1–7)

8The deacons should likewise be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain, 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10(And let these also first be proved, then let them take the office of deacons, if they be found blameless.) 11And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things. 12Let the deacons too be husbands of one wife only, governing their children and their own houses well. 13For they, that discharge the office of a deacon well, gain to themselves a good degree of honor, and much freedom in promoting the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14These things I write unto thee, hoping to come to thee shortly. 15But if I should be retarded, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave in the house of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory.