1 Timoteo 3
1 Ɛyɛ sɛnnahɔ sɛ, sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔyɛ asafopanyin a, na wafa adwuma pa.
It is a faithful saying, If any one desires the episcopacy, he covets a beautiful work.
2 Asafopanyin yɛ obi a mfomso nni ne ho. Ɛsɛ sɛ ne yere yɛ baako. Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔhyɛ ne ho so yɛ ne biribiara pɛpɛɛpɛ. Ɛsɛ sɛ ogye ahɔho wɔ ne fi na ɔkyerɛkyerɛ nso.
Therefore it behooves the bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, modest, prudent, orderly, hospitable, competent to teach,
3 Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ɔsadweam anaa basabasa, na mmom, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbrɛ ne ho ase na ɔpɛ asomdwoe. Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ sikaniberefo.
not given to wine, not a controvertist; but gentle, peaceable, not a money lover;
4 Ɛsɛ sɛ otumi hwɛ ne fifo so yiye na otumi ma ne mma yɛ osetie de obu ne nidi ma no.
ruling his own house beautifully; having children in subordination with all gravity;
5 Na sɛ obi nnim sɛnea ɔhwɛ ne fi so yiye a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obetumi ahwɛ Onyankopɔn asafo so?
but if any one does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?
6 Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ obi a afei na wahu Awurade; sɛ ɛba saa a, ne tirim bɛyɛ no dɛ na wayɛ ahomaso ama wɔabu no atɛn sɛnea wobuu ɔbonsam atɛn no.
not a novice, lest being puffed up he may fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔnnyɛ akyidifo no mpo de nidi ma no sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wɔrengu nʼanim ase na ɔbonsam afiri renyi no.
But it also behooves him indeed to have a beautiful testimony from the aliens, in order that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo mu aboafo nso yɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ suban pa na wodi nokware. Ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔnom nsa pii anaasɛ wɔyɛ aniberefo.
Likewise let the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not fond of filthy lucre;
9 Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde adwene mu fann gyina pintinn ma nokware no ne gyidi no.
having the testimony of faith in a pure conscience.
10 Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔsɔ wɔn hwɛ ansa, na sɛ wodi sɔhwɛ no so nkonim a wɔasom.
And let them also first be proven; then let them minister the office of deacon, being irreproachable.
11 Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn yerenom nso wɔ suban pa a wonni nseku. Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase di nokware wɔ biribiara mu.
Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things.
12 Ɛsɛ sɛ asafo no mu boafo no wɔ yere baako na afei otumi hwɛ ne mma ne ne fifo yiye.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses beautifully.
13 Wɔn a wɔsom yiye no benya nnyinaso pa, na wɔn gyidi a wɔwɔ wɔ Kristo Yesu mu no nso ayɛ nam.
For those having ministered the office of a deacon beautifully procure to themselves beautiful progress, and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 Saa nhoma a mede rebrɛ wo yi akyi no, mewɔ anidaso sɛ ɛrenkyɛ biara mɛba wo nkyɛn.
I write these things to you, hoping to come to you more speedily;
15 Na sɛ mannu wo nkyɛn ntɛm a saa nhoma yi bɛma woahu sɛnea wɔbɔ wɔn bra wɔ Onyankopɔn fi; ofi a ɛyɛ Onyankopɔn teasefo no asafo a ɛyɛ nokware no nnyinaso.
but if I tarry, in order that you may know how it behooves you to deport yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ, ahintasɛm a ɛwɔ nyamesom pa mu no krɔn: Ɔbae onipa tebea mu, Honhom no buu no bem, na abɔfo huu no, wɔkaa ne ho asɛm wɔ amanaman mu, na wiase gyee no dii, wɔfaa no kɔɔ ɔsoro anuonyam mu.
And assuredly great is the mystery of godliness; Who is manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen of angels, was preached among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
