that you may give her a Christian welcome in a manner becoming God's people, and give her whatever help she needs from you, for she herself has given protection to many, including myself.

But sexual vice and any form of immorality or sensual greed must not so much as be mentioned among you, as that is the only course becoming in God's people;

I want the women, on their part, to dress becomingly, that is, modestly and sensibly, not adorning themselves with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive dresses,

The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy.

But a woman who is really a widow and lives alone has fixed her hope on God, and night and day devotes herself to prayers and entreaties,

Your adornments must be not of an external nature, with braids of hair or ornaments of gold, or changes of dress,

Holiness

Deacons, too, must be serious, sincere in their talk, not addicted to strong drink or dishonest gain,

Not given

For as God's trustee a pastor must be above reproach, not stubborn or quick-tempered or addicted to strong drink or pugnacious or addicted to dishonest gain,

Teachers

so as to train the younger women to be affectionate wives and mothers,

For although you ought to be teachers of others because you have been Christians so long, you actually need someone to teach you over and over again the very elements of the truths that God has given us, and you have gotten into such a state that you are in constant need of milk instead of solid food.

But I hold it against you that you are tolerating that Jezebel of a woman who claims to be a prophetess, and by her teaching is misleading my slaves to practice immorality and to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols.

General references

Stop drinking water only, but take a little wine to strengthen your stomach and relieve its frequent attacks.