1 Timothy 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 3
Qualifications of Various Ministers. 1 [a]This saying is trustworthy:[b] whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.(A) 2 Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.(B) 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with perfect dignity; 5 for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of the church of God? 6 He should not be a recent convert, so that he may not become conceited and thus incur the devil’s punishment.[c] 7 He must also have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, the devil’s trap.(C)
8 [d]Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, 9 holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 Women,[e] similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything.(D) 12 Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. 13 Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Our Religion.[f] 14 I am writing you about these matters, although I hope to visit you soon. 15 But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.(E) 16 Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion,
Who[g] was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.(F)
Footnotes
- 3:1–7 The passage begins by commending those who aspire to the office of bishop (episkopos; see note on Phil 1:1) within the community, but this first sentence (1 Tm 3:1) may also imply a warning about the great responsibilities involved. The writer proceeds to list the qualifications required: personal stability and graciousness; talent for teaching (1 Tm 3:2); moderation in habits and temperament (1 Tm 3:3); managerial ability (1 Tm 3:4); and experience in Christian living (1 Tm 3:5–6). Moreover, the candidate’s previous life should provide no grounds for the charge that he did not previously practice what he now preaches. No list of qualifications for presbyters appears in 1 Timothy. The presbyter-bishops here and in Titus (see note on Ti 1:5–9) lack certain functions reserved here for Paul and Timothy.
- 3:1 This saying is trustworthy: the saying introduced is so unlike others after this phrase that some later Western manuscripts read, “This saying is popular.” It is understood by some interpreters as concluding the preceding section (1 Tm 2:8–15). Bishop: literally, “overseer”; see note on Phil 1:1.
- 3:6 The devil’s punishment: this phrase could mean the punishment once incurred by the devil (objective genitive) or a punishment brought about by the devil (subjective genitive).
- 3:8–13 Deacons, besides possessing the virtue of moderation (1 Tm 3:8), are to be outstanding for their faith (1 Tm 3:9) and well respected within the community (1 Tm 3:10). Women in the same role, although some interpreters take them to mean wives of deacons, must be dignified, temperate, dedicated, and not given to malicious talebearing (1 Tm 3:11). Deacons must have shown stability in marriage and have a good record with their families (1 Tm 3:12), for such experience prepares them well for the exercise of their ministry on behalf of the community (1 Tm 3:13). See further the note on Phil 1:1.
- 3:11 Women: this seems to refer to women deacons but may possibly mean wives of deacons. The former is preferred because the word is used absolutely; if deacons’ wives were meant, a possessive “their” would be expected. Moreover, they are also introduced by the word “similarly,” as in 1 Tm 3:8; this parallel suggests that they too exercised ecclesiastical functions.
- 3:14–16 In case there is some delay in the visit to Timothy at Ephesus planned for the near future, the present letter is being sent on ahead to arm and enlighten him in his task of preserving sound Christian conduct in the Ephesian church. The care he must exercise over this community is required by the profound nature of Christianity. It centers in Christ, appearing in human flesh, vindicated by the holy Spirit; the mystery of his person was revealed to the angels, announced to the Gentiles, and accepted by them in faith. He himself was taken up (through his resurrection and ascension) to the divine glory (1 Tm 3:16). This passage apparently includes part of a liturgical hymn used among the Christian communities in and around Ephesus. It consists of three couplets in typical Hebrew balance: flesh-spirit (contrast), seen-proclaimed (complementary), world-glory (contrast).
- 3:16 Who: the reference is to Christ, who is himself “the mystery of our devotion.” Some predominantly Western manuscripts read “which,” harmonizing the gender of the pronoun with that of the Greek word for mystery; many later (eighth/ninth century on), predominantly Byzantine manuscripts read “God,” possibly for theological reasons.
1 Timoseewo 3
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Abalabirizi b’Ekkanisa
3 (A)Ekigambo kyesigwa. Omuntu yenna bw’ayagalanga okuba Omulabirizi aba yeegombye omulimu omulungi. 2 (B)Noolwekyo Omulabirizi kimugwanira okuba nga taliiko kya kunenyezebwa, nga musajja wa mukazi omu, nga muntu eyeefuga, nga mwegendereza, nga mukwata mpola, ayaniriza abagenyi, era ng’amanyi okuyigiriza. 3 (C)Tateekwa kuba mutamiivu, era nga si mukambwe, wabula omuwombeefu, nga si muyombi era nga talulunkanira nsimbi. 4 (D)Ateekwa kuba ng’afuga bulungi amaka ge, abaana be nga bamuwulira, era nga bamussaamu ekitiibwa. 5 (E)Kubanga omuntu atasobola kufuga maka ge, alisobola atya okulabirira ekkanisa ya Katonda? 6 (F)Omulabirizi tateekwa kuba muntu eyaakakkiriza Kristo, si kulwa nga yeekuluntaza, n’asalirwa omusango nga Setaani bwe yagusalirwa. 7 (G)Asaanira okuba ng’assibwamu ekitiibwa abo abatali ba Kkanisa, si kulwa nga yeereetako ekivume.
Abadiikoni
8 (H)Abadiikoni nabo kibagwanira okuba abantu abassibwamu ekitiibwa abatataaganaaga mu bigambo byabwe, abatatamiira, era abatalulunkanira bintu, 9 (I)nga bakuuma ekyama ky’okukkiriza n’omutima omulongoofu. 10 Basookanga kugezesebwa balyoke baweereze mu budiikooni nga tebaliiko kya kunenyezebwa. 11 (J)N’abakazi Abadiikoni bwe batyo nabo kibagwanidde okubeeranga abassibwamu ekitiibwa, abatawaayiriza, abeegendereza, era abeesigwa mu buli kintu. 12 (K)Omudiikoni ateekwa okuba n’omukazi omu yekka, era ng’asobola okufuga obulungi abaana be, n’amaka ge. 13 Kubanga abaweereza obulungi bafuna ekifo ekya waggulu era baba n’obuvumu bungi mu kukkiriza okuli mu Kristo.
Ekyama Ekikulu
14 Nkuwandiikidde ebintu ebyo nga nsuubira okujja gy’oli mangu; 15 (L)kyokka bwe ndirwa omanye by’osaana okukola mu nnyumba ya Katonda, ye Ekkanisa ya Katonda omulamu, empagi n’omusingi eby’amazima. 16 (M)Tewali kubuusabuusa ekyama ky’okutya Katonda kikulu ddala, era kigamba nti:
“Yalabisibwa mu mubiri,
n’akakasibwa Omwoyo nga bw’atuukiridde,
n’alabibwa bamalayika,
n’alangibwa mu mawanga,
n’akkirizibwa mu nsi,
era n’atwalibwa n’ekitiibwa mu ggulu.”
1 Timothy 3
King James Version
3 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
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