Προς Τιμοθεον Α΄ 3

1 πιστος ο λογος ει τις επισκοπης ορεγεται καλου εργου επιθυμει

This is a faithful saying: someone who seeks to be an overseer desires a good work.

2 δει ουν τον επισκοπον ανεπιληπτον ειναι μιας γυναικος ανδρα νηφαλιον σωφρονα κοσμιον φιλοξενον διδακτικον

The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

3 μη παροινον μη πληκτην μη αισχροκερδη αλλ επιεικη αμαχον αφιλαργυρον

not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;

4 του ιδιου οικου καλως προισταμενον τεκνα εχοντα εν υποταγη μετα πασης σεμνοτητος

one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

5 ει δε τις του ιδιου οικου προστηναι ουκ οιδεν πως εκκλησιας θεου επιμελησεται

(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)

6 μη νεοφυτον ινα μη τυφωθεις εις κριμα εμπεση του διαβολου

not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

7 δει δε αυτον και μαρτυριαν καλην εχειν απο των εξωθεν ινα μη εις ονειδισμον εμπεση και παγιδα του διαβολου

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 διακονους ωσαυτως σεμνους μη διλογους μη οινω πολλω προσεχοντας μη αισχροκερδεις

Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money,

9 εχοντας το μυστηριον της πιστεως εν καθαρα συνειδησει

holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 και ουτοι δε δοκιμαζεσθωσαν πρωτον ειτα διακονειτωσαν ανεγκλητοι οντες

Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.

11 γυναικας ωσαυτως σεμνας μη διαβολους νηφαλιους πιστας εν πασιν

Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things.

12 διακονοι εστωσαν μιας γυναικος ανδρες τεκνων καλως προισταμενοι και των ιδιων οικων

Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 οι γαρ καλως διακονησαντες βαθμον εαυτοις καλον περιποιουνται και πολλην παρρησιαν εν πιστει τη εν χριστω ιησου

For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 ταυτα σοι γραφω ελπιζων ελθειν προς σε ταχιον

These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly,

15 εαν δε βραδυνω ινα ειδης πως δει εν οικω θεου αναστρεφεσθαι ητις εστιν εκκλησια θεου ζωντος στυλος και εδραιωμα της αληθειας

but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

16 και ομολογουμενως μεγα εστιν το της ευσεβειας μυστηριον θεος εφανερωθη εν σαρκι εδικαιωθη εν πνευματι ωφθη αγγελοις εκηρυχθη εν εθνεσιν επιστευθη εν κοσμω ανεληφθη εν δοξη

Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached amongst the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.