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.
Arũgamĩrĩri na Ateithĩrĩria a Kanitha
13:1 1Tim 1:15Ũhoro ũyũ nĩguo wa kwĩhokeka: Atĩ mũndũ o wothe angĩĩrirĩria gũtuĩka mũrori wa maũndũ ma kanitha, mũndũ ũcio nĩerirĩirie wĩra wa bata. 23:2 2Tim 2:24; Tit 1:6-8Rĩu-rĩ, mũrori wa maũndũ ma kanitha no nginya akorwo atarĩ na ũcuuke, na akorwo nĩ mũthuuri wa mũtumia ũmwe. No nginya akorwo arĩ mũhooreri, na ũũĩ kwĩgirĩrĩria merirĩria ma mwĩrĩ, na mũndũ mũtĩĩku, na mũndũ ũnyiitaga andũ ũgeni, na ũngĩhota kũrutana maũndũ. 3No ndagakorwo arĩ mũrĩĩu, kana arĩ wa ngũĩ, no akorwo arĩ mũhooreri, na mũndũ ũtarĩ wa mbaara, na ũtarĩ thuti ya mbeeca. 43:4 Tit 1:6No nginya akorwo ahotete gwatha mũciĩ wake wega, na one atĩ ciana ciake nĩimwathĩkagĩra na gĩtĩĩo kĩrĩa kĩagĩrĩire. 5(Mũndũ angĩkorwo ndangĩhota gwatha mũciĩ wake mwene-rĩ, angĩhota atĩa kũmenyerera kanitha wa Ngai?) 63:6 1Tim 6:4Ningĩ ndagakorwo arĩ mũndũ mwerũ wĩtĩkio-inĩ ndakae kũgĩa na mwĩtĩĩo, nake atuĩrwo ciira ta ũrĩa mũcukani aatuĩrĩirwo. 73:7 2Tim 2:26Ningĩ no nginya akorwo arĩ na ngumo njega kũrĩ andũ arĩa matarĩ a thiritũ iitũ, nĩgeetha ndagatuĩke wa gũconorithio kana agwe mũtego-inĩ wa mũcukani.
8Nao ateithĩrĩria a kanitha, nĩmagĩrĩirwo makoragwo marĩ andũ a gũtĩĩka na ehokeku, matigatuĩke anyui a ndibei mũno, na makorwo matarĩ a gũkorokera indo na njĩra ĩtagĩrĩire. 9No nginya marũmie ũhoro-ũrĩa-wa-ma wa wĩtĩkio ũrĩa mũrikĩru marĩ na thamiri itarĩ na mwĩcuuko. 10Nao mambe magerio; na thuutha ũcio marekwo matuĩke ateithĩrĩria a maũndũ ma kanitha maakorwo matarĩ na ũcuuke.
113:11 Tit 2:3O ũndũ ũmwe, nao atumia ao nĩmakorwo marĩ atumia a gũtĩĩka, matigakorwo marĩ andũ a gũcambania, no makorwo matarĩ arĩĩu na matuĩke a kwĩhokeka maũndũ-inĩ mothe.
12Mũteithĩrĩria wa kanitha no nginya akorwo arĩ mũthuuri wa mũtumia ũmwe, na no nginya akorwo ahotete gwatha ciana ciake na mũciĩ wake wega. 13Arĩa matungatĩte wega nĩmegĩagĩra na ngumo njega, na makomĩrĩria mũno ũhoro-inĩ wa wĩtĩkio wao ũrĩa wa gwĩtĩkia Kristũ Jesũ.
14O na gũkorwo ndĩ na mwĩhoko atĩ nĩndĩrĩũka kũrĩ we narua-rĩ, ndĩrakwandĩkĩra maũndũ maya nĩgeetha, 153:15 1Tim 3:5ingĩaga gũũka narua, ũmenye ũrĩa andũ magĩrĩirwo nĩgũikaraga marĩ thĩinĩ wa nyũmba ya Ngai, na nĩyo kanitha wa Ngai ũrĩa ũrĩ muoyo, naguo nĩguo gĩtugĩ na mũthingi mũrũmu wa kũnyiitĩrĩra ũhoro-ũrĩa-wa-ma. 163:16 Joh 1:14Na hatarĩ nganja, ũhoro wa kwĩyamũrĩra Ngai nĩ hitho nene ma, atĩ:
We oonanirio arĩ na mwĩrĩ,
agĩtuuo mũthingu nĩ Roho,
akĩonwo nĩ araika,
na ũhoro wake ũkĩhunjio kũrĩ ndũrĩrĩ ciothe,
agĩĩtĩkio nĩ andũ a gũkũ thĩ,
na akĩamũkĩrwo riiri-inĩ kũrĩa igũrũ.
