1 Timoteo 3
1 PALABRA fiel: Si alguno apetece obispado, buena obra desea.
How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is ambitious for a noble task.
2 Conviene, pues, que el obispo sea irreprensible, marido de una mujer, solícito, templado, compuesto, hospedador, apto para enseñar;
The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skilful teacher,
3 No amador del vino, no heridor, no codicioso de torpes ganancias, sino moderado, no litigioso, ajeno de avaricia;
not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money;
4 Que gobierne bien su casa, que tenga sus hijos en sujeción con toda honestidad;
he should be a man who rules his own household well, and whose children are kept under control and are well-behaved.
5 (Porque el que no sabe gobernar su casa, ¿cómo cuidará de la iglesia de Dios?)
If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God?
6 No un neófito, porque inflándose no caiga en juicio del diablo.
The Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he may not be blinded by pride and fall under the same condemnation as the Devil.
7 También conviene que tenga buen testimonio de los extraños, porque no caiga en afrenta y en lazo del diablo.
He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil.
8 Los diáconos asimismo, [deben ser] honestos, no bilingües, no dados á mucho vino, no amadores de torpes ganancias;
So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,
9 Que tengan el misterio de la fe con limpia conciencia.
but men who hold the deep truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience.
10 Y éstos también sean antes probados; y así ministren, si fueren sin crimen.
They should be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them.
11 Las mujeres asimismo, honestas, no detractoras, templadas, fieles en todo.
It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects.
12 Los diáconos sean maridos de una mujer, que gobiernen bien sus hijos y sus casas.
Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well.
13 Porque los que bien ministraren, ganan para sí buen grado, y mucha confianza en la fe que es en Cristo Jesús.
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 Esto te escribo con esperanza que iré presto á ti:
I am writing this to you, though I hope that I shall come to see you before long;
15 Y si no fuere tan presto, para que sepas cómo te conviene conversar en la casa de Dios, que es la iglesia del Dios vivo, columna y apoyo de la verdad.
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 Y sin contradicción, grande es el misterio de la piedad: Dios ha sido manifestado en carne; ha sido justificado con el Espíritu; ha sido visto de los ángeles; ha sido predicado á los Gentiles; ha sido creído en el mundo; ha sido recibido en gloria.
Yes, and confessedly 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.’
