For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you,

if anyone is blameless, husband of one wife, having believing children, not accused of loose behavior, or disobedient.

For an overseer must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not full of passion, not given to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy for ill gain;

but hospitable, a lover of good, discreet, just, holy, temperate,

holding fast the faithful Word according to the doctrine, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convict the gainsayers.

Faithful is the Word: If anyone reaches out to overseership, he desires a good work.

Then it behooves the overseer to be without reproach, husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching,

not a drunkard, not contentious, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous,

ruling his own house well, having children in subjection with all honor.

(For if a man does not know to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

not a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

But he must also have a good report from those on the outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.

Likewise the deacons are to be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of ill gain,

having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

And let these also first be tested, then let them minister without reproach.

Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and households well.