监督与执事的资格

“人若渴望做教会的监督,他是在爱慕尊贵的工作。”这句话千真万确。 做监督的人必须无可指责,只有一位妻子,为人节制自律、通情达理、受人尊敬、乐于接待客旅、善于教导, 不酗酒、不好斗、要温和、不争吵、不贪财, 善于管理自己的家,受儿女的敬重和孝顺。 一个人要是不懂得管理自己的家,又怎能照顾上帝的教会呢? 初信主的人不可做监督,免得他自高自大,遭受魔鬼所受的惩罚。 做监督的在教会以外也必须有好名声,以免被人指责,陷入魔鬼的圈套。

同样,做执事的也要品行端正,说话诚实,不好酒,不贪财, 要存着清洁的良心持守奥妙的真道。 10 他们要先接受考验,倘若无可指责,就可以立他们为执事。 11 执事的妻子[a]也要品行端正,不搬弄是非,为人节制,做事忠心。 12 执事只能有一位妻子,他要管好自己的儿女和自己的家。 13 尽忠职守的执事能得到好声誉,也会对基督耶稣有坚定的信心。

奥妙无比的信仰

14 我希望能尽快去你那里,但还是写信告诉你这些事。 15 这样,如果我行期延误,你也可以知道在上帝的家中该怎么做。这家是永活上帝的教会,是真理的柱石和根基。 16 毫无疑问,我们伟大的信仰奥妙无比:

祂以肉身显现,
被圣灵证明为义,
被天使看见,
被传扬到列邦,
被世人信奉,
被接到天上的荣耀中。

Footnotes

  1. 3:11 执事的妻子”或译“女执事”。

教会领袖

如果一个人有成为教会长老的抱负,他是在向往着一项美好的工作。这话是可信的。 长老 [a]的生活必须无可指责,他只能有一个妻子。他必须冷静、谨慎、可敬并且热情好客;他必须是称职的老师; 不酗酒,不好斗,温和与爱好和平,不贪图钱财; 他必须治家有方,他的子女孝顺并尊重他。 (如果一个人连自己的家务都不会处理,又怎么能管理好上帝的教会呢?) 他不应该是新信徒,免得他骄傲自满,陷魔鬼之覆辙而被定罪。 另外,他在教会之外的人面前也要有好的名声,免得受人指责,陷入魔鬼的圈套。

特殊的仆人

同样,执事也应该是值得敬佩的人,他们讲话要令人信任,他们不能酗酒,不能贪图不义之财。 他们要凭清白的良知坚持我们信仰的真理。 10 这些人和教会的领袖一样,首先要接受考验。如果没有什么问题,他们才可成为执事。 11 同样,妇女 [b]也必须是值得尊敬的人,她们不应该说闲话,而应该性情温和,事事诚实可靠。 12 执事只能有一位妻子,她应治家管教孩子有方。 13 称职的执事为自己在基督耶稣之中赢得一席之地,并对基督有坚定的信仰。

我们生命的奥秘

14 尽管我希望很快就到你们那里去,但是,我还是要给你们写这些事情。 15 这样如果我耽误了,你们也知道一个人在上帝的家庭 [c]里应该怎样行事,上帝的家庭就是活生生的上帝的教会,是真理的支柱和基础。 16 勿庸置疑,我们宗教(上帝向我们展示的真理)的奥秘是非常伟大的:

他以人的形体出现,
圣灵证明了他是正确的。
天使能看见他,

他的福音已传播给了各国(非犹太人),

世人信仰他,
他在荣耀中被升入天堂。

Footnotes

  1. 提 摩 太 前 書 3:2 长老: 直译监督者。受选来领导教会的人。也称他们为牧师,他做照顾上帝子民的工作。
  2. 提 摩 太 前 書 3:11 妇女: 可指执事之妻子,但也有可能是女执事或特殊的助手,《罗马人书》16:1。
  3. 提 摩 太 前 書 3:15 家庭: 可为上帝的子民就像上帝的大殿一样。

作监督的资格

“如果有人渴慕监督的职分,他就是爱慕善工。”这话是可信的。 所以作监督的,必须无可指摘,只作一个妻子的丈夫,有节制,自律,庄重,乐意接待客旅,善于教导, 不好酒,不打人,只要温和,与人无争,不贪财, 好好管理自己的家,使儿女凡事敬重顺服。 (人若不知道怎样管理自己的家,怎能照料 神的教会呢?) 初信主的不可作监督,恐怕他骄傲,就落在魔鬼所受的刑罚里。 作监督的也必须在教外有好声誉,免得他被人毁谤,就落在魔鬼的陷阱里。

作执事的资格

照样,执事也必须庄重,不一口两舌,不酗酒,不贪不义之财, 用清洁的良心持守信仰的奥秘。 10 他们也必须先受考验,若没有可责之处,然后才让他们作执事。 11 照样,他们的妻子(“他们的妻子”可解作“女执事”)也要庄重,不说谗言,有节制,凡事忠心。 12 执事只可以作一个妻子的丈夫,善于管理儿女和自己的家。 13 那善于作执事的,就为自己得了好的位分,也因着相信基督耶稣得到大大的胆量。

伟大的敬虔奥秘

14 我把这些事写给你,希望不久可以到你那里去; 15 假如我来迟了,你也可以知道在 神的家里应该怎样行。这家就是永活 神的教会、真理的柱石和根基。 16 敬虔的奥秘真伟大啊,这是众人所公认的,就是:

“他在肉身显现,

在圣灵里称义(“在圣灵里称义”或译:“被圣灵称义”),

被天使看见;

被传于列国,

被世人信服,

被接到荣耀里。”

Leaders in the Church

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader,[a] he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.[b] He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker[c] or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.[d] Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, their wives[e] must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

The Truths of Our Faith

14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith[f]:

Christ[g] was revealed in a human body
    and vindicated by the Spirit.[h]
He was seen by angels
    and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
    and taken to heaven in glory.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Or an overseer, or a bishop; also in 3:2, 6.
  2. 3:2 Or must have only one wife, or must be married only once; Greek reads must be the husband of one wife; also in 3:12.
  3. 3:3 Greek must not drink too much wine; similarly in 3:8.
  4. 3:6 Or he might fall into the same judgment as the devil.
  5. 3:11 Or the women deacons. The Greek word can be translated women or wives.
  6. 3:16a Or of godliness.
  7. 3:16b Greek He who; other manuscripts read God.
  8. 3:16c Or in his spirit.