1 Πιστος ο λογος? Εαν τις ορεγηται επισκοπην, καλον εργον επιθυμει. | 1 Here is a saying that you can rely on: to want to be a presiding elder is to desire a noble task. |
2 Πρεπει λοιπον ο επισκοπος να ηναι αμεμπτος, μιας γυναικος ανηρ, αγρυπνος, σωφρων, κοσμιος, φιλοξενος, διδακτικος, | 2 That is why the presiding elder must have an impeccable character. Husband of one wife, he must betemperate, discreet and courteous, hospitable and a good teacher; |
3 ουχι μεθυσος, ουχι πληκτης, ουχι αισχροκερδης, αλλ' επιεικης, αμαχος, αφιλαργυρος, | 3 not a heavy drinker, nor hot-tempered, but gentle and peaceable, not avaricious, |
4 κυβερνων καλως τον εαυτου οικον, εχων τα τεκνα αυτου εις υποταγην μετα πασης σεμνοτητος? | 4 a man who manages his own household wel and brings his children up to obey him and be wel -behaved: |
5 διοτι εαν τις δεν εξευρη να κυβερνα τον εαυτου οικον, πως θελει επιμεληθη την εκκλησιαν του Θεου; | 5 how can any man who does not understand how to manage his own household take care of the Churchof God? |
6 να μη ηναι νεοκατηχητος, δια να μη υπερηφανευθη και πεση εις την καταδικην του διαβολου. | 6 He should not be a new convert, in case pride should turn his head and he incur the samecondemnation as the devil. |
7 Πρεπει δε αυτος να εχη και παρα των εξωθεν μαρτυριαν καλην, δια να μη πεση εις ονειδισμον και παγιδα του διαβολου. | 7 It is also necessary that he be held in good repute by outsiders, so that he never falls into disrepute andinto the devil's trap. |
8 Οι διακονοι ωσαυτως πρεπει να ηναι σεμνοι, ουχι διγλωσσοι, ουχι δεδομενοι εις οινον πολυν, ουχι αισχροκερδεις, | 8 Similarly, deacons must be respectable, not double-tongued, moderate in the amount of wine they drinkand with no squalid greed for money. |
9 εχοντες το μυστηριον της πιστεως μετα καθαρας συνειδησεως. | 9 They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. |
10 Και ουτοι δε ας δοκιμαζωνται πρωτον, επειτα ας γινωνται διακονοι, εαν ηναι αμεμπτοι. | 10 They are first to be examined, and admitted to serve as deacons only if there is nothing against them. |
11 Αι γυναικες ωσαυτως σεμναι, ουχι καταλαλοι, εγκρατεις, πισται κατα παντα. | 11 Similarly, women must be respectable, not gossips, but sober and whol y reliable. |
12 Οι διακονοι ας ηναι μιας γυναικος ανδρες, κυβερνωντες καλως τα τεκνα αυτων και τους οικους αυτων. | 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife and must be people who manage their children andhouseholds wel . |
13 Διοτι οι καλως διακονησαντες αποκτωσιν εις εαυτους βαθμον καλον και πολλην παρρησιαν εις την πιστιν την εις τον Ιησουν Χριστον. | 13 Those of them who carry out their duties wel as deacons wil earn a high standing for themselves andan authoritative voice in matters concerning faith in Christ Jesus. |
14 Ταυτα σοι γραφω, ελπιζων να ελθω προς σε ταχυτερον? | 14 I write this to you in the hope that I may be able to come to you soon; |
15 αλλ' εαν βραδυνω, δια να εξευρης πως πρεπει να πολιτευησαι εν τω οικω του Θεου, οστις ειναι η εκκλησια του Θεου του ζωντος, ο στυλος και το εδραιωμα της αληθειας. | 15 but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know how people ought to behave in God's household --that is, in the Church of the living God, pillar and support of the truth. |
16 Και αναντιρρητως το μυστηριον της ευσεβειας ειναι μεγα? ο Θεος εφανερωθη εν σαρκι, εδικαιωθη εν πνευματι, εφανη εις αγγελους, εκηρυχθη εις τα εθνη, επιστευθη εις τον κοσμον, ανεληφθη εν δοξη. | 16 Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is very deep indeed: He was made visible in the flesh,justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up inglory. |