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 to you with 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.
Asafo Mpanyimfo
1Ɛyɛ sɛnnahɔ sɛ, sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔyɛ asafopanyin a, na wafa adwuma pa. 2Asafopanyin yɛ obi a mfomso nni ne ho. Ɛsɛ sɛ ne yere yɛ baako. Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔhyɛ ne ho so yɛ ne biribiara pɛpɛɛpɛ. Ɛsɛ sɛ ogye ahɔho wɔ ne fi na ɔkyerɛkyerɛ nso. 3Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ɔsadweam anaa basabasa, na mmom, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔpɛ asomdwoe. Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ sikaniberefo. 4Ɛsɛ sɛ otumi hwɛ ne fifo so yiye na otumi ma ne mma yɛ osetie de obu ne nidi ma no. 5Na sɛ obi nnim sɛnea ɔhwɛ ne fi so yiye a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obetumi ahwɛ Onyankopɔn asafo so? 6Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ obi a afei na wahu Awurade; sɛ ɛba saa a, ne tirim bɛyɛ no dɛ na wayɛ ahomaso ama wɔabu no atɛn sɛnea wobuu ɔbonsam atɛn no. 7Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔnnyɛ akyidifo no mpo de nidi ma no sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wɔrengu nʼanim ase na ɔbonsam afiri renyi no.
Asafo Mu Aboafo
8Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo mu aboafo nso yɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ suban pa na wodi nokware. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔnom nsa pii anaasɛ wɔyɛ aniberefo. 9Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde adwene mu fann gyina pintinn ma nokware no ne gyidi no. 10Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsɔ wɔn hwɛ ansa, na sɛ wodi sɔhwɛ no so nkonim a wɔasom.
11Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn yerenom nso wɔ suban pa a wonni nseku. Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase di nokware wɔ biribiara mu.
12Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo no mu boafo no wɔ yere baako na afei otumi hwɛ ne mma ne ne fifo yiye. 13Wɔn a wɔsom yiye no benya nnyinaso pa, na wɔn gyidi a wɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no nso ayɛ nam.
14Saa nhoma a mede rebrɛ wo yi akyi no, mewɔ anidaso sɛ ɛrenkyɛ biara mɛba wo nkyɛn. 15Na sɛ mannu wo nkyɛn ntɛm a saa nhoma yi bɛma woahu sɛnea wɔbɔ wɔn bra wɔ Onyankopɔn fi; ofi a ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn teasefo no asafo a ɛyɛ nokware no nnyinaso. 16Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ, ahintasɛm a ɛwɔ nyamesom pa mu no krɔn:
Ɔbae onipa tebea mu,
Honhom no buu no bem,
na abɔfo huu no,
wɔkaa ne ho asɛm wɔ amanaman mu,
na wiase gyee no dii,
wɔfaa no kɔɔ ɔsoro anuonyam mu.
