003:004 but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity. 003:005 (If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?) 003:006 He ought not to be a new convert, for fear he should be blinded with pride and come under the same condemnation as the Devil. 003:007 It is needful also that he bear a good character with people outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach or a snare of the Devil. 003:008 Deacons, in the same way, must be men of serious demeanour, not double-tongued, nor addicted to much wine, nor greedy of base gain, 003:009 but holding the secret truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 003:010 And they must also be well-tried men, and when found to be of unblemished character then let them serve as deacons. 003:011 Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy. 003:012 A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well. 003:013 For those who have filled the deacon's office wisely and well, are already gaining for themselves an honourable standing, and are acquiring great freedom of speech in proclaiming the faith which rests on Christ Jesus. 003:014 All this I write to you, though I am hoping before long to come to see you. 003:015 But, for fear I may be hindered, I now write, so that you may have rules to guide you in dealing with God's household. For this is what the Church of the ever-living God is, and it is the pillar and foundation-stone of the truth. 003:016 And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory. 004:001 Now the Spirit expressly declares that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons; 004:002 through the hypocrisy of men who teach falsely and have their own consciences seared as with a hot iron; 004:003 forbidding people to marry, and insisting on abstinence from foods which God has created to be partaken of, with thankfulness, by those who believe and have a clear knowledge of the truth. 004:004 For everything that God has created is good, and nothing is to be cast aside, if only it is received with thanksgiving. 004:005 For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.