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 Namumuno sa Iglesya
1Totoo ang kasabihan na ang nagnanais na mamuno sa iglesya ay nagnanais ng mabuting gawain. 2Kailangan na ang namumuno ay walang kapintasan,3:2 walang kapintasan: o, may magandang reputasyon. iisa ang asawa, marunong magpigil sa sarili, marunong magpasya kung ano ang nararapat, kagalang-galang, bukas ang tahanan sa mga tao, at magaling magturo. 3Hindi siya dapat lasenggo, hindi marahas kundi mahinahon, hindi palaaway, at hindi mukhang pera. 4Kailangan ding mahusay siyang mamahala sa pamilya niya; iginagalang at sinusunod ng mga anak niya. 5Sapagkat kung hindi siya marunong mamahala sa sariling pamilya, paano siya makakapangasiwa nang maayos sa iglesya? 6Dapat ay hindi siya bagong mananampalataya, at baka maging mayabang siya at mahatulan katulad ni Satanas. 7Bukod pa rito, kailangang iginagalang siya ng mga hindi miyembro ng iglesya para hindi siya mapintasan at hindi mahulog sa bitag ng diablo.
Ang mga Tagapaglingkod sa Iglesya
8Ganoon din naman sa mga tagapaglingkod sa iglesya:3:8 tagapaglingkod sa iglesya: sa Griego, diakonos. kailangang kagalang-galang sila, tapat sa kanilang salita, hindi lasenggo, at hindi sakim. 9Kailangang iniingatan nila nang may malinis na konsensya ang ipinahayag na katotohanan tungkol sa pananampalataya kay Cristo. 10Kailangan ding masubok muna sila; at kung mapatunayang karapat-dapat, hayaan silang makapaglingkod. 11Kailangang kagalang-galang din ang mga asawa nila, hindi mapanira sa kapwa, marunong magpigil sa sarili, at maaasahan sa lahat ng bagay. 12Dapat iisa lang ang asawa ng mga tagapaglingkod at mahusay mamahala ng kanilang pamilya. 13Ang mga naglilingkod nang mabuti ay iginagalang ng mga tao at hindi na natatakot magsalita tungkol sa pananampalataya nila kay Cristo Jesus.
Ang Hiwaga ng Ating Pananampalataya
14Kahit na inaasahan kong makakapunta riyan sa iyo sa lalong madaling panahon, isinulat ko pa rin ang tagubiling ito para 15kung sakaling maantala ako, alam mo na kung ano ang dapat ugaliin ng mga mananampalataya bilang pamilya ng Dios. Tayong mga mananampalataya ang iglesya ng buhay na Dios, ang haligi at saligan ng katotohanan. 16Tunay na napakahiwaga ng mga katotohanan ng ating relihiyon:
Nagpakita siya bilang tao,
pinatotohanan ng Banal na Espiritu na siyaʼy matuwid,
nakita siya ng mga anghel,
ipinangaral sa mga bansa,
pinaniwalaan ng mundo,
at dinala sa langit.
