Προς Τιμοθεον Α΄ 3
1 πιστος ο λογος ει τις επισκοπης ορεγεται καλου εργου επιθυμει
Faithful is the saying, "If any one is eager to have the oversight of a Church, he desires a noble work."
2 δει ουν τον επισκοπον ανεπιληπτον ειναι μιας γυναικος ανδρα νηφαλιον σωφρονα κοσμιον φιλοξενον διδακτικον
A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to his one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable to strangers, and with a gift for teaching;
3 μη παροινον μη πληκτην μη αισχροκερδη αλλ επιεικη αμαχον αφιλαργυρον
not a hard drinker nor given to blows; not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous;
4 του ιδιου οικου καλως προισταμενον τεκνα εχοντα εν υποταγη μετα πασης σεμνοτητος
but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.
5 ει δε τις του ιδιου οικου προστηναι ουκ οιδεν πως εκκλησιας θεου επιμελησεται
(If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?)
6 μη νεοφυτον ινα μη τυφωθεις εις κριμα εμπεση του διαβολου
He ought not to be a new convert, for fear he should be blinded with pride and come under the same condemnation as the Devil.
7 δει δε αυτον και μαρτυριαν καλην εχειν απο των εξωθεν ινα μη εις ονειδισμον εμπεση και παγιδα του διαβολου
It is needful also that he bear a good character with people outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach or a snare of the Devil.
8 διακονους ωσαυτως σεμνους μη διλογους μη οινω πολλω προσεχοντας μη αισχροκερδεις
Deacons, in the same way, must be men of serious demeanour, not double-tongued, nor addicted to much wine, nor greedy of base gain,
9 εχοντας το μυστηριον της πιστεως εν καθαρα συνειδησει
but holding the secret truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 και ουτοι δε δοκιμαζεσθωσαν πρωτον ειτα διακονειτωσαν ανεγκλητοι οντες
And they must also be well-tried men, and when found to be of unblemished character then let them serve as deacons.
11 γυναικας ωσαυτως σεμνας μη διαβολους νηφαλιους πιστας εν πασιν
Deaconesses, in the same way, must be sober-minded women, not slanderers, but in every way temperate and trustworthy.
12 διακονοι εστωσαν μιας γυναικος ανδρες τεκνων καλως προισταμενοι και των ιδιων οικων
A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well.
13 οι γαρ καλως διακονησαντες βαθμον εαυτοις καλον περιποιουνται και πολλην παρρησιαν εν πιστει τη εν χριστω ιησου
For those who have filled the deacon's office wisely and well, are already gaining for themselves an honourable standing, and are acquiring great freedom of speech in proclaiming the faith which rests on Christ Jesus.
14 ταυτα σοι γραφω ελπιζων ελθειν προς σε ταχιον
All this I write to you, though I am hoping before long to come to see you.
15 εαν δε βραδυνω ινα ειδης πως δει εν οικω θεου αναστρεφεσθαι ητις εστιν εκκλησια θεου ζωντος στυλος και εδραιωμα της αληθειας
But, for fear I may be hindered, I now write, so that you may have rules to guide you in dealing with God's household. For this is what the Church of the ever-living God is, and it is the pillar and foundation-stone of the truth.
16 και ομολογουμενως μεγα εστιν το της ευσεβειας μυστηριον θεος εφανερωθη εν σαρκι εδικαιωθη εν πνευματι ωφθη αγγελοις εκηρυχθη εν εθνεσιν επιστευθη εν κοσμω ανεληφθη εν δοξη
And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion-- that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.
