1 Timoteus 3
1 Den Tale er troværdig: Dersom nogen begærer en Tilsynsgerning, har han Lyst til en skøn Gerning.
How true is this saying: “To aspire to be to be a supervisor in the church is to be ambitious for a noble task.”
2 En Tilsynsmand bør derfor være ulastelig, een Kvindes Mand, ædruelig, sindig, høvisk, gæstfri, dygtig til at lære andre;
The supervisor should be of blameless character; a faithful partner; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,
3 ikke hengiven til Vin, ikke til Slagsmaal, men mild, ikke kivagtig, ikke pengegridsk;
not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
4 en Mand, som forestaar sit eget Hus vel, som har Børn, der ere lydige med al Ærbarhed;
they should provide for their own household well, and their children should kept under control and be well-behaved.
5 (dersom en ikke ved at forestaa sit eget Hus, hvorledes vil han da kunne sørge for Guds Menighed?)
If someone does not know how to provide for their own household, how can they take charge of the church of God?
6 ikke ny i Troen, for at han ikke skal blive opblæst og falde ind under Djævelens Dom.
The supervisor should not be a recent convert, or they might become blinded by pride and fall under the same judgement as the devil.
7 Men han bør ogsaa have et godt Vidnesbyrd af dem, som ere udenfor, for at han ikke skal falde i Forhaanelse og Djævelens Snare.
They should also be well spoken of by outsiders, so that they may not incur censure and so fall into the devil’s trap.
8 Menighedstjenere bør ligeledes være ærbare, ikke tvetungede, ikke hengivne til megen Vin, ikke til slet Vinding,
So, too, assistants should be serious and straightforward, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
9 bevarende Troens Hemmelighed i en ren Samvittighed.
but people who hold the deep truths of the faith and have a clear conscience.
10 Men ogsaa disse skulle først prøves, og siden gøre Tjeneste, hvis de ere ustraffelige.
They should be tested first, and only appointed to their office if no objection is raised against them.
11 Kvinder bør ligeledes være ærbare, ikke bagtaleriske, ædruelige, tro i alle Ting.
It should be the same with the women in this office. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.
12 En Menighedstjener skal være een Kvindes Mand og forestaa sine Børn og sit eget Hus vel.
Assistants should be faithful partners who manage their children and their households well.
13 Thi de, som have tjent vel i Menigheden, de erhverve sig selv en smuk Stilling og megen Frimodighed i Troen paa Kristus Jesus.
Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honourable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.
14 Disse Ting skriver jeg dig til, ihvorvel jeg haaber at komme snart til dig;
I am writing this to you, though I hope that I will come to see you before long;
15 men dersom jeg tøver, da skal du heraf vide, hvorledes man bør færdes i Guds Hus, hvilket jo er den levende Guds Menighed, Sandhedens Søjle og Grundvold.
but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the household of God, which is the church of the living God – the pillar and stay of the truth.
16 Og uden Modsigelse stor er den Gudsfrygtens Hemmelighed: Han, som blev aabenbaret i Kød, blev retfærdiggjort i Aand, set af Engle, prædiket iblandt Hedninger, troet i Verden, optagen i Herlighed.
Yes, and undeniably wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for – “He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.”
