First Letter to Timothy

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blameless.

Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

For those who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;

but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, And received up in glory.

But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.

For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.

If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.

For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value for all things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which is to come.

This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.