Thursday, December 16

1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

10But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

11Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

12Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

10So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

11And they asked Him, saying, 'Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?'

12Then He answered and told them, 'Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt?

13But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.'

14And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

15Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.

16And He asked the scribes, 'What are you discussing with them?'