This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the postion of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimomy among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not
double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding
the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also
first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate,
faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling
their children and their own houses well. For those who have served
well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great
boldness in the faith which is in Christ
Jesus.