Rules for Choosing Leaders and Deacons
1Here is a saying you can trust. If anyone wants to be a leader in the church, they want to do a good work for God and people. 2A leader must be free from blame. He must be faithful to his wife. In anything he does, he must not go too far. He must control himself. He must be worthy of respect. He must welcome people into his home. He must be able to teach. 3He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must be gentle. He must not be a person who likes to argue. He must not love money. 4He must manage his own family well. He must make sure that his children obey him. And he must do this in a way that gains him respect. 5Suppose someone doesn’t know how to manage his own family. Then how can he take care of God’s church? 6The leader must not be a new believer. If he is, he might become proud. Then he would be judged just like the devil. 7The leader must also be respected by those who are outside the church. Then he will not be put to shame. He will not fall into the devil’s trap.
8In the same way, deacons must be worthy of respect. They must be honest and true. They must not drink too much wine. They must not try to get money by cheating people. 9They must hold on to the deep truths of the faith. Even their own minds tell them to do that. 10First they must be tested. Then let them serve as deacons if there is nothing against them.
11In the same way, the women must be worthy of respect. They must not say things that harm others. In anything they do, they must not go too far. They must be worthy of trust in everything.
12A deacon must be faithful to his wife. He must manage his children and family well. 13Those who have served well earn the full respect of others. They also become more sure of their faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul’s Reasons for Giving Instructions to Timothy
14I hope I can come to you soon. But now I am writing these instructions to you. 15Then if I have to put off my visit, you will know how people should act in God’s family. The family of God is the church of the living God. It is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16There is no doubt that true godliness comes from this great mystery.
Jesus came as a human being.
The Holy Spirit proved that he was the Son of God.
He was seen by angels.
He was preached among the nations.
People in the world believed in him.
He was taken up to heaven in glory.
Ang mga Tigdumala sa mga Tumutuo
1Tinuod ang gi-ingon nga kon may buot nga mahimong tigdumala sa mga tumutuo, maayo nga katungdanan ang iyang gitinguha. 2Kinahanglan nga ang tigdumala sa mga tumutuo, lalaki kansang kinabuhi walay ikasaway, usa lang ang iyang asawa, makapugong sa iyang kaugalingon, maayo motimbang-timbang, tinahod, maabiabihon sa mga dumuduong, ug mahibalong motudlo. 3Kinahanglan dili siya palahubog, dili mapasipalahon, ug dili palaaway, kondili maluloy-on. Kinahanglan dili siya hakog ug kuwarta. 4Bahin sa iyang panimalay, kinahanglan maayo siya modumala, gitahod, ug ginatuman siya sa iyang mga anak. 5Kay unsaon man niya pagdumala sa mga tumutuo kon siya gani dili makahibalo modumala sa iyang kaugalingon nga panimalay? 6Kinahanglan dili siya bag-ong tumutuo, kay basin unya ug magpasigarbo siya ug tungod niini silotan siya sama kang Satanas. 7Kinahanglan usab nga tinahod siya bisan sa mga dili tumutuo aron dili siya maulawan ug mahulog sa laang ni Satanas.
Ang mga Diyakono sa Iglesia
8Bahin sa mga diyakono3:8 diyakono: Ang buot ipasabot, katabang sa buluhaton sa Dios. sa iglesia, kinahanglan tinahod sila, masaligan ang ilang gipanulti, dili magpalabig inom ug bino, dili hakog, 9ug ginahuptan nila nga may hinlo nga konsensya ang kamatuoran mahitungod sa pagtuo kang Cristo, nga wala isugilon sa Dios kaniadto. 10Kinahanglan susihon una ang ilang batasan, ug kon walay ikasaway kanila, makaalagad na sila isip diyakono. 11Ang ilang asawa kinahanglan tinahod usab, dili libakira, mahibalong mopugong sa ilang kaugalingon, ug masaligan sa tanang butang. 12Kinahanglan usa lang ang ilang asawa, ug maayo usab sila modumala sa ilang mga anak ug sa ilang tibuok panimalay. 13Ang mga diyakono sa iglesia nga maayo moalagad tahoron sa mga tawo ug makabaton sila ug dugang kaisog sa pagsulti mahitungod sa ilang pagtuo kang Cristo Jesus.
Ang mga Kamatuoran sa Atong Relihiyon
14Nagplano ako nga moanha diha sa dili madugay aron makigkita kanimo. Apan gisulat ko gayod kini, 15aron nga kon malangan ako, masayod ka na kon unsaon paggawi sa mga tumutuo isip pamilya sa Dios. Kita nga mga tumutuo mao ang iglesia sa buhi nga Dios, ang iyang gisaligan nga magbarog ug maglaban sa kamatuoran. 16Dili ikalalis nga kahibulongan gayod ang mga kamatuoran sa atong relihiyon:
Nagpadayag siya ingon nga tawo,
gipamatud-an sa Espiritu Santo nga siya matarong,
nakita siya sa mga anghel,
giwali ngadto sa kanasoran,
gituohan sa mga tawo,
ug gibayaw ngadto sa langit.
