A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?6 Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.7 Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8 Deacons in like manner chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.10 And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.11 The women in like manner chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children, and their own houses.13 For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Knowing, then, that "God is not mocked," we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ, and not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued, or lovers of money, but temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all. If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, "we shall also reign together with Him," provided only we believe.
A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to thee, O Lord: I will sing,2 And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house.2 And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house.3 I did not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the workers of iniquities.5 The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I would not eat.6 My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the man that walked in the perfect way, he served me.
And Jezebel was able to injure the most religious Naboth by her false accusations; but then it was the wicked and apostate Ahab who listened to her. But the most holy David, whose example you ought to follow, as all pray that you may, does not favor such people but was apt to turn away from them and avoid them, as raging dogs. He says, "Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him will I destroy." For he kept the commandment that says, "You shall not receive a false report." And false are the reports of these people in your sight. You, like Solomon, have required of the Lord (and you ought to believe yourself to have obtained your desire), that it would seem good to him to remove far from you vain and lying words.
And it came to pass afterwards, that he went into a city that is called Naim; and there went with him his disciples, and a great multitude.12 And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow: and a great multitude of the city was with her.†13 Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, he said to her: Weep not.†14 And he came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to thee, arise.15 And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.16 And there came a fear on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God hath visited his people.17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the country round about.
(non occ.) But the Saviour is not like to Elias mourning over the son of the widow of Sarepta, (1 Kings 17) nor as Elisha who laid his own body upon the body of the dead, (2 Kings 4) nor as Peter who prayed for Tabitha, (Acts 9:40) but is none other than He who calls those things which be not, as though they were, who can speak to the dead as to the living, (Rom. 4:17) as it follows, And he said, Young man
But some one will say of the centurion’s servant, that he was not going to die. That such an one might restrain his rash tongue, the Evangelist explains that the young man whom Christ came upon was already dead, the only son of a widow. For it follows, And she was a widow, and much people of the city was. with her.
But straightway he arose to whom the command was made. For the Divine power is irresistible; there is no delay, no urgency of prayer, as it follows, And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak, and he gave him to his mother. These are the signs. of a true resurrection, for the lifeless body cannot speak, nor would the mother have carried back to her house her dead and lifeless son.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)