1 I t is true that if a man wants to be a church leader, he wants to do a good work.

Fiel é esta palavra: Se alguém aspira ao episcopado, excelente obra deseja.

2 A church leader must be a good man. His life must be so no one can say anything against him. He must have only one wife and must be respected for his good living. He must be willing to take people into his home. He must be willing to learn and able to teach the Word of God.

É necessário, pois, que o bispo seja irrepreensível, marido de uma só mulher, temperante, sóbrio, ordeiro, hospitaleiro, apto para ensinar;

3 H e must not get drunk or want to fight. Instead, he must be gentle. He must not have a love for money.

não dado ao vinho, não espancador, mas moderado, inimigo de contendas, não ganancioso;

4 H e should be a good leader in his own home. His children must obey and respect him.

que governe bem a sua própria casa, tendo seus filhos em sujeição, com todo o respeito

5 I f a man cannot be a good leader in his own home, how can he lead the church?

(pois, se alguém não sabe governar a sua própria casa, como cuidará da igreja de Deus?);

6 A church leader must not be a new Christian. A new Christian might become proud and fall into sin which is brought on by the devil.

não neófito, para que não se ensoberbeça e venha a cair na condenação do Diabo.

7 A church leader must be respected by people who are not Christians so nothing can be said against him. In that way, he will not be trapped by the devil. What the Church Helpers Must Be Like

Também é necessário que tenha bom testemunho dos que estão de fora, para que não caia em opróbrio, e no laço do Diabo.

8 C hurch helpers must also be good men and act so people will respect them. They must speak the truth. They must not get drunk. They must not have a love for money.

Da mesma forma os diáconos sejam sérios, não de língua dobre, não dados a muito vinho, não cobiçosos de torpe ganância,

9 T hey must have their faith in Christ and be His follower with a heart that says they are right.

guardando o mistério da fé numa consciência pura.

10 T hey must first be tested to see if they are ready for the work as church helpers. Then if they do well, they may be chosen as church helpers.

E também estes sejam primeiro provados, depois exercitem o diaconato, se forem irrepreensíveis.

11 T he wives of church helpers must be careful how they act. They must not carry stories from one person to another. They must be wise and faithful in all they do.

Da mesma sorte as mulheres sejam sérias, não maldizentes, temperantes, e fiéis em tudo.

12 C hurch helpers must have only one wife. They must lead their home well and their children must obey them.

Os diáconos sejam maridos de uma só mulher, e governem bem a seus filhos e suas próprias casas.

13 T hose who work well as church helpers will be respected by others and their own faith in Christ Jesus will grow. Why Paul Writes to Timothy

Porque os que servirem bem como diáconos, adquirirão para si um lugar honroso e muita confiança na fé que há em Cristo Jesus.

14 I hope to come to you soon. I am writing these things

Escrevo-te estas coisas, embora esperando ir ver-te em breve,

15 b ecause it may be awhile before I get there. I wanted you to know how you should act among people in the church which is the house of the living God. The church holds up the truth.

para que, no caso de eu tardar, saibas como se deve proceder na casa de Deus, a qual é a igreja do Deus vivo, coluna e esteio da verdade.

16 I t is important to know the secret of God-like living, which is: Christ came to earth as a Man. He was pure in His Spirit. He was seen by angels. The nations heard about Him. Men everywhere put their trust in Him. He was taken up into heaven.

E, sem dúvida alguma, grande é o mistério da piedade: Aquele que se manifestou em carne, foi justificado em espírito, visto dos anjos, pregado entre os gentios, crido no mundo, e recebido acima na glória.