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 Mpanimfoɔ
1Ɛyɛ sɛnnahɔ sɛ, sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔyɛ asafopanin a, na wafa adwuma pa. 2Asafopanin yɛ obi a mfomsoɔ 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 ɔgye ahɔhoɔ wɔ ne fie na ɔkyerɛkyerɛ nso. 3Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ɔsadweam anaa basabasa, na mmom, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔpɛ asomdwoeɛ. Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ sikaniberefoɔ. 4Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtumi hwɛ ne fiefoɔ so yie na ɔtumi ma ne mma yɛ ɔsetie de obuo ne anidie ma no. 5Na sɛ obi nnim sɛdeɛ ɔhwɛ ne fie so yie a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na ɔbɛtumi ahwɛ Onyankopɔn asafo so? 6Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ obi a afei na wahunu Awurade; sɛ ɛba saa a, ne tirim bɛyɛ no dɛ na wayɛ ahomasoɔ ama wɔabu no atɛn sɛdeɛ wɔbuu ɔbonsam atɛn no. 7Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔnnyɛ akyidifoɔ no mpo de anidie ma no sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wɔrengu nʼanim ase na ɔbonsam afidie renyi no.
Asafo Mu Aboafoɔ
8Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo mu aboafoɔ nso yɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ suban pa na wɔdi nokorɛ. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔnom nsã pii anaasɛ wɔyɛ aniberefoɔ. 9Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde adwenem fann gyina pintinn ma nokorɛ no ne gyidie no. 10Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsɔ wɔn hwɛ ansa, na sɛ wɔdi sɔhwɛ no so nkonim a, wɔasom.
11Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn yerenom nso wɔ suban pa a wɔnni nsekuro. Biribiara mu ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase di nokorɛ.
12Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo no mu ɔboafoɔ no wɔ yere baako na afei ɔtumi hwɛ ne mma ne ne fiefoɔ yie. 13Wɔn a wɔsom yie no bɛnya nnyinaso pa, na wɔn gyidie a wɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no nso ayɛ nam.
14Saa nwoma a mede rebrɛ wo yi akyi no, mewɔ anidasoɔ sɛ ɛrenkyɛre biara mɛba wo nkyɛn. 15Na sɛ mannuru wo nkyɛn ntɛm a, saa nwoma yi bɛma woahunu sɛdeɛ yɛbɔ yɛn bra wɔ Onyankopɔn fie. Efie a ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn teasefoɔ no asafo a ɛyɛ nokorɛ no nnyinasoɔ. 16Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ, ahintasɛm a ɛwɔ nyamesom pa mu no krɔnn:
Ɔbaeɛ onipa tebea mu,
Honhom no buu no bem,
na abɔfoɔ hunuu no,
wɔkaa ne ho asɛm amanaman mu,
na ewiase gyee no diiɛ,
wɔfaa no kɔɔ ɔsoro animuonyam mu.
