The wife of the applicant for ordained bishop's license must be grave, not a slanderer, sober, and faithful in all things.

• A. Grave, Not a Slanderer, Sober, and Faithful in All Things
• B. Wealthy and Influential
• C. Must Be Ordained as Well
• D. Must Be Younger Than Thirty

Answer: (A)

This item tests the scriptural standard for the wife of someone seeking ordained bishop status. The church expects the bishop’s household to reflect the same virtues expected of the bishop himself, grounded in what Scripture describes in this area.

The best answer matches the exact qualities given in the biblical reference: grave, not a slanderer, sober, and faithful in all things. “Grave” means serious and dignified, not frivolous. “Not a slanderer” means avoiding gossip and damaging speech about others. “Sober” signals self-control and prudent judgment. “Faithful in all things” conveys reliability and trustworthiness in all duties, especially in marriage and family life. Together, these describe a spouse whose character supports a life of ministry and public testimony.

We can see why the other options don’t fit: wealth and influence aren’t the Scriptural criteria for a bishop’s wife; there’s no requirement that the wife must be ordained herself; and there’s no age requirement such as being younger than a certain number of years.