Church Officials
1 It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. 2 That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. 3 They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.
4 Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. 5 If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?
6 They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil. 7 Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.
Church Officers
8 Church officers should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. 9 And they must have a clear conscience and hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith. 10 They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.
11 Women must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do.
12 Church officers must be faithful in marriage. They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home. 13 Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.
The Mystery of Our Religion
14 I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, 15 so if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
16 Here is the great mystery of our religion:
Christ came as a human.
The Spirit proved
that he pleased God,
and he was seen by angels.
Christ was preached
to the nations.
People in this world
put their faith in him,
and he was taken up to glory.
Ovanane mombongo
1 Omambo nga ouatjiri: Tji pe nomundu ngu ma zeri okurira omunane wombongo, eye ma zeri otjiungura otjiwatjiwa. 2 Omunane wombongo ma sokukara nokuhinatjipo; ma sokurira omurumendu womukazendu umwe, nomutima omuwa, nomuritjaere koviṋa nomuritjinde wanawa; eye ma sokusekirisa ovayenda moye; ma sokuyenena okuhonga ovandu; 3 eye ke nokusokurira omusuvere womanuwa poo omunazondjito zakotjomasa, nungwari ma sokurira ongozu nomunahange, nu ke nokusokunanukira ovimariva; 4 eye ma sokurira omuṱakamise wonganda ye nawa; ma sokukurisa ovanatje ve kutja ve kare nonḓuviro ku ye nondengero aihe. 5 Orondu omundu tje hi nokuyenena okuṱakamisa onganda ye omuini, ma sora vi okurisa ombongo ya Ndjambi? 6 Eye ma sokurira omundu ngwe kura mongamburiro kokutja e he risurisa mokuritongamisa kutja Satan e he mu wisire mombanguriro ya Ndjambi. 7 Nu wina eye ma sokurira omurumendu ngu ma pewa ondengero i ovandu mbe ri pendje yombongo, kokutja eye a ha yamburuka na ha wire mongwehe ya Satan.
Ovavatere mombongo
8 Momuano tjingewo, ovavatere wombongo wina mave sokukara notjikaro otjiwa, nu ngave rire ovandu mbe ha hungire pevari; owo kave sokunwa omavinu omengi; nu kave sokunanukira ovimariva. 9 Owo ve sokuṱakamisa nomeritjiviro womomutima omawa imbwi ouatjiri wongamburiro mbwa vandururwa. 10 Owo rutenga ve sokurorwa, nokuzambo tji pe hi nomundu ngu meve kuramene momurungu, otji mave yenene okukarera ombongo. 11 Novakazendu vawo wina ngave kare nomeritjindiro omawa, nu ave ha yamburura ovandu varwe; ngave kare nomitima omiwa nu ve rire ovaṱakame moviṋa avihe. 12 Omuvatere wombongo nga rire omurumendu womukazendu umwe uriri, nu nga rise ovanatje ve nawa nokuṱakamisa onganda ye nawa wina. 13 Ovavatere mba mbu mave ungura oviungura vyawo nawa mave munu ondengero mombongo, nu mave yenene okuhungira noupandi indji ongamburiro yawo mu Kristus Jesus.
Omaundikiro omanene
14 Tji me tjanga orutuu ndwi nai, ami me tjangovasi me yokukumuna tjimanga. 15 Nungwari tjinangara mba wombo okuya, orutuu ndwi maru ku tjivisa kutja eṱe ngatu ritjinde vi monganda ya Ndjambi. Onganda ndji oyo ombongo ya Ndjambi omunamuinyo; oyo ongunḓe nomazikameno wouatjiri. 16 Kape nomundu ngu ma sora okupataṋa kutja omaundikiro wongamburiro yetu owo, tjiri, omanene:
Jesus Kristus weya mouye momuhapo womundu,
wa varwa otja omusemba i Ombepo,
na munika kovaengeri;
eye wa zuvarisiwa mokati kaimba mbe he ri Ovajuda,
novandu mouparanga wouye auhe ave kambura mu ye,
neye a twarewa keyuru.
