Alábojútó àti Díákónì
1Òtítọ́ ni ọ̀rọ̀ náà, bí ẹnìkan bá fẹ́ ipò alábojútó, iṣẹ́ rere ni ó ń fẹ́, 2Ǹjẹ́ alábojútó yẹ kí ó jẹ́ aláìlẹ́gàn, ọkọ aya kan, olùṣọ̀ràn, aláìrékọjá, oníwà rere, olùfẹ́ àlejò ṣíṣe, ẹni tí ó lè ṣe olùkọ́. 3Kí ó má jẹ́ ọ̀mùtí, tàbí oníjàgídíjàgan, tàbí olójúkòkòrò, bí kò ṣe onísùúrù, kí ó má jẹ́ oníjà, tàbí olùfẹ́ owó. 4Ẹni tí ó káwọ́ ilé ara rẹ̀ gírígírí, tí ó mú àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀ tẹríba pẹ̀lú ìwà àgbà gbogbo; 5Ṣùgbọ́n bí ènìyàn kò bá mọ̀ bí a ti ń ṣe ìkáwọ́ ilé ara rẹ̀, òun ó ha ti ṣe lè tọ́jú ìjọ Ọlọ́run? 6Kí ó má jẹ́ ẹni tuntun ti ó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ gbàgbọ́, kí ó má ba à gbéraga, a sì ṣubú sínú ẹ̀bi èṣù. 7Ó sì yẹ kí ó ni ẹ̀rí rere pẹ̀lú lọ́dọ̀ àwọn tí ń bẹ lóde; kí ó má ba à bọ́ sínú ẹ̀gàn àti sínú ìdẹ̀kùn èṣù.
8Bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ ni ó yẹ fún àwọn Díákónì láti ní ìwà àgbà, kí wọ́n máa jẹ́ ẹlẹ́nu méjì, kí wọ́n máa fi ara wọn fún wáìnì púpọ̀, kí wọ́n má jẹ́ olójúkòkòrò. 9Kí wọn máa di ohun ìjìnlẹ̀ ìgbàgbọ́ mú pẹ̀lú ọkàn funfun. 10Kí a kọ́kọ́ wádìí àwọn wọ̀nyí dájú pẹ̀lú; nígbà náà ni kí a jẹ́ kí wọn ó ṣiṣẹ́ díákónì, bí wọn bá jẹ́ aláìlẹ́gàn.
11Bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ ni ó yẹ fún àwọn obìnrin láti ni ìwà àgbà, kí wọn má jẹ́ asọ̀rọ̀ ẹni lẹ́yìn bí kò ṣe aláìrékọjá, olóòtítọ́ ní ohun gbogbo.
12Kí àwọn díákónì jẹ́ ọkọ obìnrin kan, kí wọn káwọ́ àwọn ọmọ àti ilé ara wọn dáradára. 13Nítorí àwọn tí ó lo ipò díákónì dáradára ra ipò rere fún ara wọn, àti ìgboyà púpọ̀ nínú ìgbàgbọ́ tí ń bẹ nínú Kristi Jesu.
14Ìwé nǹkan wọ̀nyí ni mo kọ sí ọ, mo sì ń retí àti tọ̀ ọ́ wá ní lọ́ọ́lọ́ọ́. 15Ṣùgbọ́n bí mo bá pẹ́, kí ìwọ lè mọ̀ bí ó ti yẹ fún àwọn ènìyàn láti máa hùwà nínú ilé Ọlọ́run, tì í ṣe ìjọ Ọlọ́run alààyè, ọ̀wọ́n àti ìpìlẹ̀ òtítọ́. 16Láìṣiyèméjì, títóbi ní ohun ìjìnlẹ̀ ìwà-bí-Ọlọ́run:
ẹni tí a fihàn nínú ara,
tí a dá láre nínú Ẹ̀mí,
ti àwọn angẹli rí,
tí a wàásù rẹ̀ láàrín àwọn orílẹ̀-èdè,
tí a gbàgbọ́ nínú ayé,
tí a sì gbà sókè sínú ògo.
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.
