For this reason I left you behind in Crete, so that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and you should appoint elders in every city as I commanded you:

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the overseers and ministers:

Faithful is this word: If anyone aspires to the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

It is necessary, therefore, for a bishop to be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful at teaching;

one ruling his own house well, having [his] children in submission with all reverence;

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

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy for money,

But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being irreproachable.

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

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master appointed over his household, to give them food in due season?

And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

Let a man so consider us, as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Now furthermore what is required among the stewards, is that one be found faithful.

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Let not my soul come into their counsel, and let not my inward parts contend in their conspiracy, for in their wrath they slew men, and in their passion they hamstrung a bull.

and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are bold, self-willed, illustrious persons, they do not tremble at blaspheming,

A passionate man acts inconsiderately, but a sensible man bears up under many things.

A passionate man stirs up strife; but [he that is] slow to anger appeases even a rising one. [ 15:18A] A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels, but an ungodly man rather stirs [them] up.

A man slow to anger is better than a strong man, and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.

Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry; for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teaching what is good,

You shall not drink wine nor strong drink, you and your sons with you, whenever you enter into the tabernacle of witness, or when you approach the altar, so shall you not die; [it is] a perpetual statute for your generations,

Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine:

lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and not be able to judge the poor rightly.

For these have trespassed through wine; they have erred through strong drink; the priest and the prophet are mad through strong drink, they are swallowed up by reason of wine, they have staggered through drunkenness; they have erred; this is [their] vision.

[This translation omits this verse.]

And no priest shall drink any wine, when they go into the inner court.

And do not get drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

not given to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money;

And a servant of the Lord ought not to fight, but to be gentle to all, skillful at teaching, forbearing,

in meekness instructing those that oppose, if God perhaps may give them repentance, to a full knowledge of the truth,

See how they are all blinded; they have not known; [they are] dumb dogs [that] will not bark; dreaming of rest, loving to slumber.

Yea, they are insatiable dogs, that know not what it is to be filled, and they are wicked, having no understanding; all have followed their own ways, each according to his [will].

not given to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money;

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not being given to much wine, not greedy for money,

shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not by compulsion, but rather willingly, not in fondness for dishonest gain, but rather eagerly;