¶ This is a true saying: If a man covet the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Yea and a bishop must be faultless, the husband of one wife, sober, of honest behavior, honestly apparelled, harbourous, apt to teach, not drunken, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: but gentle, abhorring fighting, abhorring covetousness, and one that ruleth his own house honestly, having children under obedience, with all honesty. For if a man cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the congregation of God. He may not be a young man, lest he swell and fall into the judgment of the evil speaker. He must also be well reported of among them which are without forth, lest he fall into rebuke, and into the snare of the evil speaker.
¶ Likewise must the deacons be honest, not double tongued, not given unto much drinking, neither unto filthy lucre: but having the mystery of the faith in pure conscience. And let them first be proved, and then let them minister, if they be found faultless.
¶ Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well, and their own households. For they that minister well, get themselves good degree, and great liberty in the faith, which is in Christ Iesu.
¶ These things write I unto thee, trusting to come shortly unto thee. And if I come not, that thou mayst yet have knowledge how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. And without nay great is that mystery of godliness. God was shewed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen of angels, was preached unto the gentiles, was believed on in earth and received up in glory.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526