1 The saying is sure: If any one aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a noble task.2 Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher,3 no drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money.4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way;5 for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God's church?6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil;7 moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, or he may fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.8 Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for gain;9 they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.10 And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons.11 The women likewise must be serious, no slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons be the husband of one wife, and let them manage their children and their households well;13 for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
1 πιστος ο λογος ει τις επισκοπης ορεγεται καλου εργου επιθυμει2 δει ουν τον επισκοπον ανεπιληπτον ειναι μιας γυναικος ανδρα {VAR1: νηφαλεον } {VAR2: νηφαλιον } σωφρονα κοσμιον φιλοξενον διδακτικον3 μη παροινον μη πληκτην μη αισχροκερδη αλλ επιεικη αμαχον αφιλαργυρον4 του ιδιου οικου καλως προισταμενον τεκνα εχοντα εν υποταγη μετα πασης σεμνοτητος5 ει δε τις του ιδιου οικου προστηναι ουκ οιδεν πως εκκλησιας θεου επιμελησεται6 μη νεοφυτον ινα μη τυφωθεις εις κριμα εμπεση του διαβολου7 δει δε αυτον και μαρτυριαν καλην εχειν απο των εξωθεν ινα μη εις ονειδισμον εμπεση και παγιδα του διαβολου8 διακονους ωσαυτως σεμνους μη διλογους μη οινω πολλω προσεχοντας μη αισχροκερδεις9 εχοντας το μυστηριον της πιστεως εν καθαρα συνειδησει10 και ουτοι δε δοκιμαζεσθωσαν πρωτον ειτα διακονειτωσαν ανεγκλητοι οντες11 γυναικας ωσαυτως σεμνας μη διαβολους {VAR1: νηφαλεους } {VAR2: νηφαλιους } πιστας εν πασιν12 διακονοι εστωσαν μιας γυναικος ανδρες τεκνων καλως προισταμενοι και των ιδιων οικων13 οι γαρ καλως διακονησαντες βαθμον εαυτοις καλον περιποιουνται και πολλην παρρησιαν εν πιστει τη εν χριστω ιησου14 ταυτα σοι γραφω ελπιζων ελθειν προς σε ταχιον15 εαν δε βραδυνω ινα ειδης πως δει εν οικω θεου αναστρεφεσθαι ητις εστιν εκκλησια θεου ζωντος στυλος και εδραιωμα της αληθειας16 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