slanderers, sober, faithful in all
things.

(12)Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding well over their
children and their own houses. (13)For they that have served well as
deacons obtain for themselves a good degree[3:13], and great boldness
in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(14)These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly;
(15)but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to
conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (16)And confessedly, great is
the mystery of godliness; God was manifested[3:16] in the flesh, was
justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the
Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was received up in glory.

IV.

NOW the Spirit says expressly, that in after-times some will depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and teachings of
demons; (2)of those who speak lies in hypocrisy, having their
conscience seared with a hot iron; (3)forbidding to marry, commanding
to abstain from food, which God created to be received with
thanksgiving, for those[4:3] who believe and know the truth. (4)For
every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving; (5)for it is sanctified by the word of God
and prayer.

(6)If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a
good minister of Christ Jesus, nurtured in the words of the faith and
of the good teaching, which thou hast strictly followed. (7)But the
profane and silly fables[4:7] avoid, and exercise thyself unto
godliness. (8)For bodily exercise is profitable for little; but
godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come. (9)Faithful is the saying,
and worthy of all acceptance. (10)For to this end we both labor and
suffer reproach, because we have hoped in the living God, who is the
Savior of all men, especially of believers.

(11)These things command and teach. (12)Let no one despise thy youth;
but become an example of the believers, in word, in deportment, in
love, in faith, in purity. (13)Till I come, give attention to reading,
to exhortation, to teaching. (14)Neglect not the gift that is in thee,
which was given thee through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands
of the eldership. (15)Meditate on these things[4:15]; give thyself
wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest to all