1 Timothy 3

1 Anyone who aspires to be an elder [in the congregation] (OR, a bishop) desires a noble/honorable task.

Òtítọ́ ni ọ̀rọ̀ náà, bí ẹnìkan bá fẹ́ ipò alábojútó, iṣẹ́ rere ni ó ń fẹ́.

2 [Since that is a task that others should respect], an overseer must [live] in such a way that [no one] can truly (say that he has done [anything that is] wrong/find fault with him). Specifically, [he must be] faithful to his wife. He must think clearly [about what he does]. He must be able to control his behavior. He must be sensible. He must be dignified/respectable. He must welcome and care for guests. He must be able to teach [God’s truth] well.

Ǹjẹ́ alábojútó yẹ kí ó jẹ́ aláìlẹ́gàn, ọkọ aya kan, olùṣọ̀ràn, aláìrékọjá, oníwà rere, olùfẹ́ àlejò ṣíṣe, ẹni tí ó lè ṣe olùkọ́.

3 He must not be a drunkard. He must not be ready/quick to fight [those who make him angry]. On the contrary, he must be gentle and he must not be quarrelsome. He must not be greedy for a lot of money.

Kí ó má jẹ́ ọ̀mùtí, tàbí oníjàgídíjàgan, tàbí olójúkòkòrò, bí kò ṣe onísùúrù, kí ó má jẹ́ oníjà, tàbí olùfẹ́ owó.

4 He must lead and care for his own household/family well. For example, he must be a man whom his children obey and completely respect,

Ẹni tí ó káwọ́ ilé ara rẹ̀ gírígírí, tí ó mú àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀ tẹríba pẹ̀lú ìwà àgbà gbogbo.

5 because if anyone does not know how he should lead well and care for well the people who live in his own house, (he certainly cannot care for God’s congregation!/how can he care for God’s congregation?) [RHQ]

Ṣùgbọ́n bí ènìyàn kò bá mọ̀ bí a ti ń ṣe ìkáwọ́ ilé ara rẹ̀, òun ó ha ti ṣe lè tọ́jú ìjọ Ọlọ́run?

6 He must not be one who has just recently [trusted in Jesus], because [if you choose a man] like that, he might become conceited/proud [because you chose him so soon]. As a result of his being conceited/proud, God will condemn him like he condemned the devil [because he was conceited/proud].

Kí ó má jẹ́ ẹni tuntun ti ó ṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ gbàgbọ́, kí ó má ba à gbéraga, a sì ṣubú sínú ẹ̀bi èṣù.

7 Moreover, [an elder must live] in such a way that non-Christians speak well of him, because [if he conducts himself like] that, people will not say evil things about him, and the devil will not capture/trap him [MET] [like people capture animals] in a trap.

Ó sì yẹ kí ó ni ẹ̀rí rere pẹ̀lú lọ́dọ̀ àwọn tí ń bẹ lóde; kí ó má ba à bọ́ sínú ẹ̀gàn àti sínú ìdẹ̀kùn èṣù.

8 [Those whom you choose to serve as] deacons likewise [must be ones who conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically], they must be (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must (be sincere/mean what they say). They must not like to drink a lot of alcohol. They must not (be greedy/have a strong desire to get money).

Bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ ni ó yẹ fún àwọn Díákónì láti ní ìwà àgbà, kí wọ́n máa jẹ́ ẹlẹ́nu méjì, kí wọ́n máa fi ara wọn fún wáìnì púpọ̀, kí wọ́n má jẹ́ olójúkòkòrò.

9 They must sincerely believe the message that [God] has now revealed [to us].

Kí wọn máa di ohun ìjìnlẹ̀ ìgbàgbọ́ mú pẹ̀lú ọkàn funfun.

10 [Like you do for the elders], you must examine ([their character/how they conduct their lives]) [before you appoint them to serve]. Then if they are without fault, let them serve as deacons.

Kí a kọ́kọ́ wádìí àwọn wọ̀nyí dájú pẹ̀lú; nígbà náà ni kí a jẹ́ kí wọn ó ṣiṣẹ́ díákónì, bí wọn bá jẹ́ aláìlẹ́gàn.

11 Their wives (OR, The women who are deacons) likewise [must conduct themselves suitably/appropriately. Specifically, they must be] (serious/worthy that people respect them). They must not speak evil about people. They must not drink a lot of alcohol. They must be faithful in everything that they do.

Bẹ́ẹ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ ni ó yẹ fún àwọn obìnrin láti ni ìwà àgbà, kí wọn má jẹ́ asọ̀rọ̀ ẹni lẹ́yìn bí kò ṣe aláìrékọjá, olóòtítọ́ ní ohun gbogbo.

12 Deacons must be faithful to their wives, and they must lead well and care well for their children and [other] people in their houses.

Kí àwọn díákónì jẹ́ ọkọ obìnrin kan, kí wọn káwọ́ àwọn ọmọ àti ilé ara wọn dáradára.

13 Because if deacons serve well, people will respect them, and they will be able [to speak] very boldly/confidently about what they believe concerning Christ Jesus.

Nítorí àwọn tí ó lo ipò díákónì dáradára ra ipò rere fún ara wọn, àti ìgboyà púpọ̀ nínú ìgbàgbọ́ tí ń bẹ nínú Kristi Jesu.

14 Although I hope that I will come and visit you soon, I am writing these things to you [now]

Ìwé nǹkan wọ̀nyí ni mo kọ sí ọ, mo sì ń retí àti tọ̀ ọ́ wá ní lọ́ọ́lọ́ọ́.

15 in order that if I (am delayed/things prevent me from visiting to you soon), you will know how believers should conduct their lives [and you will be able to teach that to them]. [I am talking about] all those who are members of God’s family, all the congregations that belong to the all-powerful God, all those who uphold/support [MET] the true [message].

Ṣùgbọ́n bí mo bá pẹ́, kí ìwọ lè mọ̀ bí ó ti yẹ fún àwọn ènìyàn láti máa hùwà nínú ilé Ọlọ́run, tì í ṣe ìjọ Ọlọ́run alààyè, ọ̀wọ́n àti ìpìlẹ̀ òtítọ́.

16 It is certainly true that [the message that God] has now revealed is very wonderful! From it, we learn this spiritual truth that we say/sing about [Christ] (OR, We affirm this teaching to be true and very important.) It is what shows us how to live (in a godly manner/in a manner that pleases God). It is what God has now revealed, even though it was not known before. [We] ([affirm/say that it is true]) concerning Jesus Christ that, He is the one who appeared on the earth in a human body. God’s Spirit showed/demonstrated that he is/was truly the Messiah (OR, that he always acted righteously); Angels saw him; people preached about him in many nations; People in many parts of the world believed the message about him. God took him up into heaven.

Láìṣiyèméjì, títóbi ní ohun ìjìnlẹ̀ ìwà-bí-Ọlọ́run: ẹni tí a fihàn nínú ara, tí a dá láre nínú Ẹ̀mí, ti àwọn angẹli rí, tí a wàásù rẹ̀ láàrín àwọn orílẹ̀-èdè, tí a gbàgbọ́ nínú ayé, tí a sì gbà sókè sínú ògo.