Testament of Our Lord

tr. Cooper and Maclean, 1902

33. Book I, Chapter 33

Of Deacons

The deacon is appointed,¹ chosen like the things which have before been spoken of. If he be of good conduct,² if he be pure, if he have been chosen for purity and for abstinence from distractions³; if not, yet [if he] be the husband of one wife,⁴ borne witness to by all the faithful, not entangled in the businesses of the world, not knowing a handicraft, without riches, without children.⁵ But if he be married⁶ or have children,⁵ let his children⁵ be taught to work piety and to be pure, so that they may be approved by the Church, according to the rule of the ministry. But let the Church take care for them, so that they may persevere in the law and in the work of the ministry.

Notes

S.: let the deacon be appointed. For the word, see p. 90.
εὐβίοτος or (Lagarde) εὔτροπος translated.
Or: enticements.
Lit.: of (or from) the marriage of one wife. Cf. 1 Tim. iii. 12.
Or: Sons.
Lit.: if he be from (of) a wife.