1 Timotheo 3
1 Msemo huu ni wa kweli: mtu akitaka kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, huyo anatamani kazi nzuri.
It is certain, if any one is desirous of the episcopal office, he desireth a good work.
2 Basi, kiongozi wa kanisa anapaswa awe mtu asiye na lawama; anapaswa awe na mke mmoja tu, awe mwenye kiasi, nidhamu na utaratibu; ni lazima awe mkarimu na anayeweza kufundisha;
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave,
3 asiwe mlevi au mtu wa matata, bali awe mpole, apendaye amani; asiwe mtu wa kupenda fedha;
hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome,
4 anapaswa awe mtu awezaye kuongoza vema nyumba yake, na kuwafanya watoto wake wawe watii kwa heshima yote.
not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 Maana kama mtu hawezi kuongoza vema nyumba yake, atawezaje kulitunza kanisa la Mungu?
(for if any one know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Mtu ambaye hajakomaa bado katika imani asifanywe kuwa kiongozi katika kanisa, asije akajaa majivuno na kuhukumiwa kama vile Ibilisi alivyohukumiwa.
not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Anapaswa awe mwenye sifa njema kati ya watu walio nje ya kanisa, ili asije akalaumiwa na kuanguka katika mtego wa Ibilisi.
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 Wasaidizi katika kanisa wanapaswa pia kuwa watu wenye tabia njema na wanyofu; wasiwe wanywaji mno wa divai au wenye tamaa ya fedha;
The deacons should likewise be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of base gain,
9 wanapaswa kuzingatia kwa dhamiri njema ukweli wa ndani wa imani.
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 Ni lazima kwanza wathibitishwe, na wakionekana kuwa wanafaa, basi, watoe huduma yao.
(And let these also first be proved, then let them take the office of deacons, if they be found blameless.)
11 Wake zao wanapaswa pia kuwa na tabia njema, wasiowasengenya watu, wenye kiasi na waaminifu katika mambo yote.
And their wives likewise grave, not slanderers, sober, and faithful in all things.
12 Msaidizi katika kanisa lazima awe na mke moja tu, na awezaye kuongoza vema watoto wake na nyumba yake.
Let the deacons too be husbands of one wife only, governing their children and their own houses well.
13 Maana wasaidizi wanaofanya kazi yao vizuri hujipatia msimamo mzuri, na wanaweza kusema bila hofu juu ya imani yao katika Kristo Yesu.
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 Ninakuandikia barua hii nikiwa na matumaini ya kuja kwako hivi karibuni.
These things I write unto thee, hoping to come to thee shortly.
15 Lakini kama nikicheleweshwa, basi, barua hii itakufahamisha mwenendo tunaopaswa kuwa nao katika nyumba ya Mungu, ambayo ni kanisa la Mungu aliye hai, na ambalo ni nguzo na msingi wa ukweli.
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 Hakuna mashaka yoyote juu ya ukuu wa siri ya dini yetu: Alionekana katika umbo la kibinadamu alithibitishwa na Roho kuwa ni mwadilifu, akaonekana na malaika. Alihubiriwa kati ya mataifa, aliaminiwa popote ulimwenguni, akachukuliwa juu mbinguni katika utukufu.
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.
