1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (أع 20:28; 1تي 1:15)2Therefore an overseer[1] must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[2] sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1تي 3:11; 1تي 5:9; 2تي 2:24; تي 1:6; تي 2:2; 1بط 4:9)3not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (1تي 6:10; تي 3:2; عب 13:5)4He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, (1تي 3:12)5for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? (1تي 3:1)6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1تي 6:4; 2تي 3:4)7Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (مر 4:11; 1تي 6:9; 2تي 2:26)
Qualifications for Deacons
8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[3] not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. (في 1:1; 1تي 5:23; تي 1:7; تي 2:3; 1بط 5:2)9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (أع 23:1; 1تي 1:19)10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. (1تي 5:22)11Their wives likewise[4] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. (تي 2:3; تي 2:10)12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. (1تي 3:2; 1تي 3:4)13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (مت 25:21)
The Mystery of Godliness
14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He[5] was manifested in the flesh, vindicated[6] by the Spirit,[7] seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (لو 2:13; لو 24:4; يو 1:14; أع 1:2; غل 2:2; 2تس 1:10; 1بط 1:20)