1 KuThimothi 3
1 Nansi isitsho esiqotho esithi: Lowo ofuna ukuba ngumthungameli ufisa umsebenzi olesithunzi.
It is certain, if any one is desirous of the episcopal office, he desireth a good work.
2 Umthungameli akumelanga abengosolekayo njalo kumele abeyindoda elomfazi oyedwa, ezithibayo, elamandla okuzibamba, ehloniphekayo, ephatha kuhle izihambi, eyenelisa ukufundisa,
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave,
3 engayisiso sidakwa, engeladlakela kodwa emnene, engathandi ingxabano, engathandi imali.
hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome,
4 Kayibe ngephatha kuhle umuzi wayo njalo ibone ukuba abantwana bayo bayayilalela ngenhlonipho efaneleyo.
not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (Nxa umuntu engakwazi ukuphatha umuzi wakhe angaliphatha njani ibandla likaNkulunkulu na?)
(for if any one know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Akumelanga kube ngosanda kuphenduka hlezi azikhukhumeze abe ngaphansi kokwahlulelwa kunye loSathane.
not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Njalo kumele abe ngodume ngokuhle kwabangaphandle ukuze angaweli ehlazweni lasemjibileni kaSathane.
He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Ngokunjalo, amadikoni lawo kumele kube ngabantu abahloniphekayo, abaqotho, abanganathi iwayini elinengi, abangadingi inzuzo ngobuqili.
The deacons should likewise be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain,
9 Kumele babambelele eqinisweni elizikileyo kanye lasekukholweni ngesazela esihlanzekileyo.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Kumele baqale bahlolwe; nxa kungekho lutho olubi ngabo, kabasebenze njengamadikoni.
(And let these also first be proved, then let them take the office of deacons, if they be found blameless.)
11 Ngokunjalo, labomkabo kumele babe ngabesifazane abahloniphekayo, abangahlebiyo kodwa abazithibayo labathembekileyo ezintweni zonke.
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.
12 Umdikoni kabe lomfazi oyedwa kuphela njalo ophatha kuhle abantwana bakhe kanye labendlu yakhe.
Let the deacons too be husbands of one wife only, governing their children and their own houses well.
13 Labo abasebenze kuhle bazuza isithunzi lesithembiso esikhulu ekukholweni kwabo kuKhristu uJesu.
For they, that discharge the office of a deacon well, gain to themselves a good degree of honor, and much freedom in promoting the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 Lanxa ngikhangelele ukuza kuwe masinyane, ngikulobela iziqondiso lezi ukuze kuthi
These things I write unto thee, hoping to come to thee shortly.
15 nxa ngibambeka, ukwazi ukuthi abantu kumele baziphathe njani endlini kaNkulunkulu elibandla likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, insika lesisekelo seqiniso.
But if I should be retarded, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave in the house of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 Kungekho kuthandabuza imfihlakalo yokwesaba uNkulunkulu inkulu: Wabonakaliswa emzimbeni, wafakazelwa nguMoya, wabonwa yizingilosi, watshunyayelwa phakathi kwezizwe, umhlaba wakholwa kuye, wenyukiselwa phezulu ngenkazimulo.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory.
