1 P ALABRA fiel: Si alguno apetece obispado, buena obra desea.

The saying is true and irrefutable: If any man seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).

2 C onviene, pues, que el obispo sea irreprensible, marido de una mujer, solícito, templado, compuesto, hospedador, apto para enseñar;

Now a bishop (superintendent, overseer) must give no grounds for accusation but must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, circumspect and temperate and self-controlled; sensible and well behaved and dignified and lead an orderly (disciplined) life; hospitable a capable and qualified teacher,

3 N o amador del vino, no heridor, no codicioso de torpes ganancias, sino moderado, no litigioso, ajeno de avaricia;

Not given to wine, not combative but gentle and considerate, not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and not a lover of money.

4 Q ue gobierne bien su casa, que tenga sus hijos en sujeción con toda honestidad;

He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful.

5 ( Porque el que no sabe gobernar su casa, ¿cómo cuidará de la iglesia de Dios?)

For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?

6 N o un neófito, porque inflándose no caiga en juicio del diablo.

He must not be a new convert, or he may as the result of pride fall into the condemnation that the devil did.

7 T ambién conviene que tenga buen testimonio de los extraños, porque no caiga en afrenta y en lazo del diablo.

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside, lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil’s trap.

8 L os diáconos asimismo, deben ser honestos, no bilingües, no dados á mucho vino, no amadores de torpes ganancias;

In like manner the deacons worthy of respect, not shifty and double-talkers but sincere in what they say, not given to much wine, not greedy for base gain.

9 Q ue tengan el misterio de la fe con limpia conciencia.

They must possess the mystic secret of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 Y éstos también sean antes probados; y así ministren, si fueren sin crimen.

And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve.

11 L as mujeres asimismo, honestas, no detractoras, templadas, fieles en todo.

women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, trustworthy in all things.

12 L os diáconos sean maridos de una mujer, que gobiernen bien sus hijos y sus casas.

Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage children and their own households well.

13 P orque los que bien ministraren, ganan para sí buen grado, y mucha confianza en la fe que es en Cristo Jesús.

For those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 E sto te escribo con esperanza que iré presto á ti:

Although I hope to come to you before long, I am writing these instructions to you so that,

15 Y si no fuere tan presto, para que sepas cómo te conviene conversar en la casa de Dios, que es la iglesia del Dios vivo, columna y apoyo de la verdad.

If I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and stay (the prop and support) of the Truth.

16 Y sin cotradicción, grande es el misterio de la piedad: Dios ha sido manifestado en carne; ha sido justificado con el Espíritu; ha sido visto de los ángeles; ha sido predicado á los Gentiles; ha sido creído en el mundo; ha sido recibido en gloria.

And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He '> God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.