Thursday of the 26th week after Pentecost

My son Timothy, this saying is true: if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but patient, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one that 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 testimony 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 proved; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have served the office of deacon well obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.