These instructions to bishops from the First Letter to Timothy were written at a time long before celibacy became obligatory for priests in the Church. The writer naturally thinks of a parallel between the way a man cared for his own family and the way he ought to care for the Church. Though we live in a very different situation, there is a great deal to be learned by our modern Church from this passage, especially in view of the scandals which have so hurt us these last few years. "A bishop must be irreproachable", and what is said of the bishop can be said of every priest, deacon and religious. Indeed, every single Christian should live an irreproachable life, as other Letters of the New Testament remind us. Many of Paul's Letters, after profound doctrinal discussion, turn to the earthly reality of the Christian's life in the world, in the family and in society. What a better world we would live in if every Christian were indeed irreproachable, good-tempered, self-controlled, modest, hospitable, gentle and peace-loving!