Leaders in the Church
1 This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. 2 A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; 3 he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; 4 he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. 5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? 6 He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was. 7 He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.
Helpers in the Church
8 Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money; 9 they should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve. 11 Their wives also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything. 12 A church helper must have only one wife, and be able to manage his children and family well. 13 Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Great Secret
14 As I write this letter to you, I hope to come and see you soon. 15 But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion:
He appeared in human form,
was shown to be right by the Spirit,
and was seen by angels.
He was preached among the nations,
was believed in throughout the world,
and was taken up to heaven.
Kādam jābūt bīskapam
1 Ja kāds tiecas pēc bīskapa amata, tas kāro pēc krietna darba. 2 Bīskapam ir jābūt bez vainas, vienas sievas vīram, skaidru prātu, nosvērtam, pieticīgam, viesmīlīgam, lietpratīgam skolotājam, 3 nevis tādam, kas mīl iedzert un ir kauslis, bet kas ir lēnprātīgs, neķildojas un nav mantrausīgs, 4 kas savu namu labi pārvalda un bērnus tur paklausībā un audzina krietnumā. 5 Bet, ja kāds savu namu nemāk pārvaldīt, kā viņš aprūpēs Dieva draudzi? 6 Viņam jābūt ne jaunatgrieztam, lai augstprātības dēļ viņš nekristu par upuri velna sodībai. 7 Par viņu ir jābūt labai slavai ārpus draudzes, lai viņš nekristu negodā un neiekļūtu velna slazdā.
Kādiem jābūt diakoniem
8 Tāpat arī diakoniem ir jābūt cienījamiem, viņi nedrīkst būt divkosīgi, nodoties dzeršanai un negodīgai mantas raušanai. 9 Viņiem ir jābūt tādiem, kas ticības noslēpumu tur tīrā sirdsapziņā. 10 Vispirms lai viņi tiek pārbaudīti un, ja ir bez vainas, tad lai kalpo. 11 Tāpat arī sievām ir jābūt cienījamām – nevis neslavas cēlājām, bet atturīgām un visās lietās uzticamām. 12 Lai diakoni ir vienas sievas vīri, kas labi pārrauga savus bērnus un savu namu. 13 Tie, kas krietni veic kalpošanas darbu, iegūst godājamu stāvokli un pārliecību droši sludināt ticībā, kas pamatota Kristū Jēzū.
Dievticības noslēpums
14 Šo visu es tev rakstu, būdams cerībā, ka drīz ieradīšos, 15 bet, ja es aizkavēšos, lai tu zinātu, kā tev vajag darboties Dieva namā. Jo šis nams ir dzīvā Dieva draudze, patiesības balsts un pamats. 16 Visatzīstami liels ir dievticības noslēpums:
viņš ir parādījies miesā,
Tēva attaisnots Garā,
tapis redzams eņģeļiem,
sludināts pagāniem,
ticībā pieņemts pasaulē,
uzņemts godībā.
