1 Timoty 3
1 Mahatoky izao teny izao: Raha misy olona maniry ny asan’ ny mpitandrina, dia maniry asa tsara izy.
This is a faithful saying: If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.
2 Koa ny mpitandrina dia tsy maintsy ho tsy manan-tsiny, manam-bady tokana, mahonon-tena, hendry, tia filaminana, mampiantrano vahiny, mahay mampianatra,
The overseer, therefore, must be beyond criticism, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, good at teaching;
3 tsy mpimamo lian’ ady, tsy mpikapoka, fa mandefitra, tsy mpila ady, tsy mpitia vola,
not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
4 manapaka tsara ny ankohonany, mampanaiky ny zanany amin’ ny fahamaotinana tsara
one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;
5 (fa raha misy olona tsy mahay mitondra ny ankohonany, hataony ahoana no fitandrina ny fiangonan’ Andriamanitra?),
(but if someone does not know how to manage his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
6 tsy izay zazavao amin’ ny fivavahana, fandrao hieboebo foana izy ka ho latsaka amin’ ny fahamelohan’ ny devoly.
not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Ary tsy maintsy ho tsara laza koa amin’ izay eny ivelany izy, fandrao ho lavo amin’ ny fananan-tsiny sy ny fandriky ny devoly.
Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into disgrace and the trap of the devil.
8 Ny diakona koa toy izany ihany, ho maotona, tsy miroa teny, tsy tia divay be, tsy tia harena maloto,
Deacons, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not devoted to a lot of wine, not greedy for money;
9 mitandrina tsara ny zava-miafina ny amin’ ny finoana amin’ ny fieritreretana madio.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Ary aoka hizahan-toetra ireo aloha, dia vao hanao ny asan’ ny diakona izy, raha tsy manan-tsiny.
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if they are blamesless.
11 Ny vehivavy koa ho toy izany ihany: maotona, tsy mpanendrikendrika, mahonon-tena, mahatoky amin’ ny zavatra rehetra.
Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Aoka ny diakona samy hanam-bady tokana sady hanapaka tsara ny zanany sy ny ankohonany.
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 Fa izay efa mahavatra tsara ny asan’ ny diakona dia mahazo toerana tsara ho an’ ny tenany sy fahasahiana be amin’ ny finoana izay ao amin’ i Kristy Jesosy.
For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Izany zavatra izany dia soratako aminao, na dia manantena hankatỳ aminao faingana aza aho;
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
15 fa raha tratra ela aho, dia ny hahafantaranao izay fitondran-tena mety hatao ao an-tranon’ Andriamanitra, dia ny fiangonan’ Andriamanitra velona, sady andry sy fiorenan’ ny fahamarinana.
but if I wait long, that you may know how people ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 Ary iaraha-manaiky mihitsy fa lehibe ny zava-miafina ny amin’ ny toe-panahy araka an’ Andriamanitra, dia Ilay naseho teo amin’ ny nofo, nohamarinina tao amin’ ny Fanahy; hitan’ ny anjely, notorina tany amin’ ny jentilisa, ninoana teny amin’ izao tontolo izao, nakarina tamin’ ny voninahitra.
Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: He was revealed in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
