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For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Neither did we eat any man"s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.