1 É sta es palabra fiel: Si alguno anhela ser obispo, desea una buena obra.

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

2 P ero es necesario que el obispo sea irreprensible y que tenga una sola esposa; que sea sobrio, prudente, decoroso, 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 afecto al vino, ni pendenciero, ni codicioso de ganancias deshonestas, sino amable, apacible, no avaro;

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 a sus hijos en sujeción y 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 ( pues el que no sabe gobernar su propia casa, ¿cómo podrá cuidar 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 debe ser un neófito, no sea que se envanezca y caiga en la condenación 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 es necesario que tenga buen testimonio de los de afuera, para que no caiga en descrédito y en los lazos del diablo. Requisitos de los diáconos

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 D e igual manera, los diáconos deben ser honestos y sin doblez, no demasiado afectos al vino ni codiciosos de ganancias deshonestas;

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 y deben guardar el misterio de la fe con limpia conciencia.

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

10 A demás, éstos primero deben ser puestos a prueba y, si son irreprensibles, entonces podrán ejercer el diaconado.

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, por su parte, deben ser honestas, y no calumniadoras, sino sobrias y 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 deben tener una sola esposa, y gobernar 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 ues los que ejercen bien el diaconado ganan para sí mismos un grado honroso y mucha confianza en la fe que es en Cristo Jesús. El misterio de la piedad

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 A unque tengo la esperanza de ir pronto a visitarte, te escribo esto

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

15 p ara que, si me tardo, sepas cómo conducirte en la casa de Dios, que es la iglesia del Dios viviente, columna y baluarte 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 I ndiscutiblemente, el misterio de la piedad es grande: Dios fue manifestado en carne, Justificado en el Espíritu, Visto de los ángeles, Predicado a las naciones, Creído en el mundo, Recibido arriba 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.