「人若想要得監督的職分，就是羨慕善工。」這話是可信的。
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
「人若想要得監督的職分，就是羨慕善工。」這話是可信的。
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
作監督的，必須無可指責，只作一個婦人的丈夫，有節制，自守，端正，樂意接待遠人，善於教導；
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
不因酒滋事，不打人，只要溫和，不爭競，不貪財；
not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
好好管理自己的家，使兒女凡事端莊順服〔或作「端端莊莊地使兒女順服」〕。
He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
人若不知道管理自己的家，焉能照管神的教會呢？
for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
初入教的不可作監督，恐怕他自高自大，就落在魔鬼所受的刑罰裏。
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
監督也必須在教外有好名聲，恐怕被人毀謗，落在魔鬼的網羅裏。
Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
作執事的，也是如此：必須端莊，不一口兩舌，不好喝酒，不貪不義之財；
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
要存清潔的良心，固守真道的奧祕。
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
這等人也要先受試驗，若沒有可責之處，然後叫他們作執事。
And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
女執事〔原文作「女人」〕也是如此：必須端莊，不說讒言，有節制，凡事忠心。
Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
執事只要作一個婦人的丈夫，好好管理兒女和自己的家。
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
因為善作執事的，自己就得到美好的地步，並且在基督耶穌裏的真道上大有膽量。
For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
我指望快到你那裏去，所以先將這些事寫給你。
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
倘若我耽延日久，你也可以知道在神的家中當怎樣行。這家就是永生神的教會，真理的柱石和根基。
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
大哉，敬虔的奧祕，無人不以為然！就是神在肉身顯現，被聖靈稱義〔或作「在靈性稱義」〕，被天使看見，被傳於外邦，被世人信服，被接在榮耀裏。
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.