1 Timothy 3
1 This saying is trustworthy: If someone desires to be an overseer, he desires a good work.
下面这句话值得我们相信：“如果有人希望成为长者，这也是可以做的善行。”
2 Therefore the overseer must be without reproach. He must be a husband of one wife. He must be moderate, sensible, orderly, and hospitable. He must be able to teach.
一个长者必须无可指摘，只娶一名妻子，有节制，保持平衡、庄重、款待他人、善于教导。
3 He must not be addicted to wine, not a brawler, but instead, gentle, peaceful. He must not be a lover of money.
他应该不好酒、不暴力，而是要温和，与人无争或者不贪财，
4 He should manage his own household well, and his children should obey him with all respect.
他必须能管好自己的家，他让儿女做的事情，儿女必须敬重顺服。
5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for a church of God?
（因为一个男人如果不知如何管好自己的家，怎能管理上帝的教会？）
6 He should not be a new convert, so that he does not swell with pride and might fall into condemnation as the devil.
他不应该是一个新加入的信徒，否则他可能会骄傲，这就落入与魔鬼相同的惩罚之中。
7 He must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
他在教会以外也应有个好名声，这样他就不会被人毁谤，从而落在魔鬼的陷阱。
8 Deacons, likewise, should be dignified, not double-talkers. They should not drink too much wine or be greedy.
同样，执事也必须庄重、不伪善、不酗酒、不骗取不义之财。
9 They should keep the revealed truth of the faith with a clean conscience.
他们必须用纯粹的良心信上帝，坚持显示关于上帝真想。
10 They should also be approved first, then they should serve because they are blameless.
他们首先应去尝试一段时间，如果没有错误，然后才让他们担任执事。
11 Women in the same way should be dignified. They should not be slanderers. They should be moderate and faithful in all things.
他们的妻子也要庄重，不应用闲话中伤他人，应该有节制，所做的一切都应该值得信任。
12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife. They must manage well their children and household.
执事只应娶一个妻子，善于管理儿女和自己的家。
13 For those who have served well acquire for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
那些表现优秀的执事，为自己赢得好名声，也因相信基督耶稣而获得更多自信。
14 I am writing these things to you, and I expect to come to you soon.
尽管希望尽快见到你，我仍把这些写给你，
15 But if I delay, I am writing so that you may know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
万一我拖延了，你也可以知道人们在上帝的家中应该做出怎样的行为。这是永生上帝的教会、真理的柱石和根基。
16 It is undeniable that the revealed truth of godliness is great: “He appeared in the flesh, was justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up in glory.”
关于上帝所显化的真相真惊人，这一点毫无疑问。他以人的形态让我们知道他，灵是他的证明，天使看到他，向各国宣布，世界相信他，他为此获得荣耀。
