1 Timoty 3
1 Mahatoky izao teny izao: Raha misy olona maniry ny asan’ ny mpitandrina, dia maniry asa tsara izy.
IT is a true saying, If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desireth a laudable employment.
2 Koa ny mpitandrina dia tsy maintsy ho tsy manan-tsiny, manam-bady tokana, mahonon-tena, hendry, tia filaminana, mampiantrano vahiny, mahay mampianatra,
A bishop then must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, temperate, sagacious, respectable, hospitable, well qualified for teaching;
3 tsy mpimamo lian’ ady, tsy mpikapoka, fa mandefitra, tsy mpila ady, tsy mpitia vola,
not addicted to wine, not using hard words or blows, not greedy of base gain; but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;
4 manapaka tsara ny ankohonany, mampanaiky ny zanany amin’ ny fahamaotinana tsara
presiding over his own family with propriety, having his children under subjection with all gravity of behaviour:
5 (fa raha misy olona tsy mahay mitondra ny ankohonany, hataony ahoana no fitandrina ny fiangonan’ Andriamanitra?),
for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God?
6 tsy izay zazavao amin’ ny fivavahana, fandrao hieboebo foana izy ka ho latsaka amin’ ny fahamelohan’ ny devoly.
Not a new convert, lest he be puffed up, and fall into the devil’s crime.
7 Ary tsy maintsy ho tsara laza koa amin’ izay eny ivelany izy, fandrao ho lavo amin’ ny fananan-tsiny sy ny fandriky ny devoly.
He must also have a fair character from those who are without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the snare of the devil.
8 Ny diakona koa toy izany ihany, ho maotona, tsy miroa teny, tsy tia divay be, tsy tia harena maloto,
The deacons also in like manner must be grave, not doubletongued, not addicting themselves to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 mitandrina tsara ny zava-miafina ny amin’ ny finoana amin’ ny fieritreretana madio.
holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 Ary aoka hizahan-toetra ireo aloha, dia vao hanao ny asan’ ny diakona izy, raha tsy manan-tsiny.
And let these also be first proved, and if found blameless, then let them enter on the deacon’s office.
11 Ny vehivavy koa ho toy izany ihany: maotona, tsy mpanendrikendrika, mahonon-tena, mahatoky amin’ ny zavatra rehetra.
Their wives in like manner must be grave women, not addicted to scandal, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Aoka ny diakona samy hanam-bady tokana sady hanapaka tsara ny zanany sy ny ankohonany.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ordering well their children and their own families.
13 Fa izay efa mahavatra tsara ny asan’ ny diakona dia mahazo toerana tsara ho an’ ny tenany sy fahasahiana be amin’ ny finoana izay ao amin’ i Kristy Jesosy.
For they who discharge the office of a deacon with propriety, acquire to themselves a respectable station in the church, and great boldness in the faith which is in Jesus Christ.
14 Izany zavatra izany dia soratako aminao, na dia manantena hankatỳ aminao faingana aza aho;
These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 fa raha tratra ela aho, dia ny hahafantaranao izay fitondran-tena mety hatao ao an-tranon’ Andriamanitra, dia ny fiangonan’ Andriamanitra velona, sady andry sy fiorenan’ ny fahamarinana.
but should I be delayed, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the pedestal of truth.
16 Ary iaraha-manaiky mihitsy fa lehibe ny zava-miafina ny amin’ ny toe-panahy araka an’ Andriamanitra, dia Ilay naseho teo amin’ ny nofo, nohamarinina tao amin’ ny Fanahy; hitan’ ny anjely, notorina tany amin’ ny jentilisa, ninoana teny amin’ izao tontolo izao, nakarina tamin’ ny voninahitra.
And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
