Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
1Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full3:4 Or him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8In the same way, deacons3:8 The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1. are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11In the same way, the women3:11 Possibly deacons’ wives or women who are deacons are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Reasons for Paul’s Instructions
14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,3:16 Or vindicated in spirit
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
Abalabirizi b’Ekkanisa
13:1 a 1Ti 1:15 b Bik 20:28Ekigambo kyesigwa. Omuntu yenna bw’ayagalanga okuba Omulabirizi aba yeegombye omulimu omulungi. 23:2 a Tit 1:6-8 b Bar 12:13 c 2Ti 2:24Noolwekyo Omulabirizi kimugwanira okuba nga taliiko kya kunenyezebwa, nga musajja wa mukazi omu, nga muntu eyeefuga, nga mwegendereza, nga mukwata mpola, ayaniriza abagenyi, era ng’amanyi okuyigiriza. 33:3 a 2Ti 2:24 b Beb 13:5; 1Pe 5:2Tateekwa kuba mutamiivu, era nga si mukambwe, wabula omuwombeefu, nga si muyombi era nga talulunkanira nsimbi. 43:4 Tit 1:6Ateekwa kuba ng’afuga bulungi amaka ge, abaana be nga bamuwulira, era nga bamussaamu ekitiibwa. 53:5 1Ko 10:32Kubanga omuntu atasobola kufuga maka ge, alisobola atya okulabirira ekkanisa ya Katonda? 63:6 1Ti 6:4Omulabirizi tateekwa kuba muntu eyaakakkiriza Kristo, si kulwa nga yeekuluntaza, n’asalirwa omusango nga Setaani bwe yagusalirwa. 73:7 2Ti 2:26Asaanira okuba ng’assibwamu ekitiibwa abo abatali ba Kkanisa, si kulwa nga yeereetako ekivume.
Abadiikoni
83:8 a Baf 1:1 b Tit 2:3Abadiikoni nabo kibagwanira okuba abantu abassibwamu ekitiibwa abatataaganaaga mu bigambo byabwe, abatatamiira, era abatalulunkanira bintu, 93:9 1Ti 1:19nga bakuuma ekyama ky’okukkiriza n’omutima omulongoofu. 10Basookanga kugezesebwa balyoke baweereze mu budiikooni nga tebaliiko kya kunenyezebwa. 113:11 2Ti 3:3; Tit 2:3N’abakazi Abadiikoni bwe batyo nabo kibagwanidde okubeeranga abassibwamu ekitiibwa, abatawaayiriza, abeegendereza, era abeesigwa mu buli kintu. 123:12 nny 4Omudiikoni ateekwa okuba n’omukazi omu yekka, era ng’asobola okufuga obulungi abaana be, n’amaka ge. 13Kubanga abaweereza obulungi bafuna ekifo ekya waggulu era baba n’obuvumu bungi mu kukkiriza okuli mu Kristo.
Ekyama Ekikulu
14Nkuwandiikidde ebintu ebyo nga nsuubira okujja gy’oli mangu; 153:15 nny 5; Bef 2:21kyokka bwe ndirwa omanye by’osaana okukola mu nnyumba ya Katonda, ye Ekkanisa ya Katonda omulamu, empagi n’omusingi eby’amazima. 163:16 a Bar 16:25 b Yk 1:14 c Bak 1:23 d Mak 16:19Tewali kubuusabuusa ekyama ky’okutya Katonda kikulu ddala, era kigamba nti:
“Yalabisibwa mu mubiri,
n’akakasibwa Omwoyo nga bw’atuukiridde,
n’alabibwa bamalayika,
n’alangibwa mu mawanga,
n’akkirizibwa mu nsi,
era n’atwalibwa n’ekitiibwa mu ggulu.”
