Badiyi be gubungano
1 Ndebo iyeyi malebeswa: Ha mmwe eyemula kube nlingi we gubungano unoyemula nshingo nkulu. 2 Ngono nlingi we gubungano wakafanila kube akatambunuka, ali nlume we nkadzi nng'ompela, akadzikama, akatitja, ana ntutshi, ana buthu, etubula diya, 3 asingalaladze, asina ngwa, koga ana moyo nnyolo, asina zhoba, asingade mari. 4 Wakafanila tubula kuyendisa nsha uwe zubuyanana, ediya bana babe kunhwa, benteta kwakafanila. 5 Ha nlume asingazibe kuyendisa nsha uwe, apa ungatjengeta gubungano le Ndzimu tjini kene? 6 Azofanila kube ali nthu wakashanduka ngwenu, ngobe ungadwa ezwikudza ndizo kasumikilisiwa sekwa Satani akasumikilisiwa. 7 Wakafanila kube ana zina buyanana muna bakuzhe, kuti ndizo asitobokiwe kawila mu dati la Satani.
Batiyakoni be gubungano
8 Batiyakoni na ibobo bakafanila kube balume banofanigwa nge kutetiwa, bana malebeswa, basingagale ngolaladza kakale basina bugovu gwe fumwa. 9 Bakafanila bhatilila mu malebeswa e kugalamoyo bana hana mbuyanana. 10 Bakafanila lingisisiwa kutanga, ngono ha kusina tjimwe tjisakalingisana nge kwabo, ngabashinge bali batiyakoni. 11 Sa ikoko, bakadzi bakafanila kube bakadzi bakafanigwa ngotetiwa, basi banotjinya bamwe mazina, koga bali gedzikane, begalikabgwe mu tjimwe ne tjimwe. 12 Ntiyakoni wakafanila kube nlume we nkadzi nng'ompela, kakale wakafanila kulela bana babe ne nsha uwe zubuyanana. 13 Ibabo banoshinga zubuyanana banowana tjimo tjakanaka nenge ganyo mu bugalimoyo gwabo muna Kirisiti Jesu.
Masazibgwe makulu
14 Nenguba ndigalabgwe kuzha ku kuli tjinyolotjo, ndokukwalila milayo iyeyi kuti ndizo 15 ha ndinonoka, unowoziba bathu sekwa bakafanila kuzwibhata mu ng'umba ye Ndzimu, ilo gubungano le Ndzimu unotjila, phanda ne luswingo gwe malebeswa. 16 Nge malebeswa akuna ungalamba masazibgwe e bugalimoyo gwedu:
Wakazha ali nthu,
Meya ikalakidza kuti unolebesa,
kabong'wa nge batumwa be kudzimu.
Kasumikigwa pakati kwe zwitjaba,
kukagagwamoyo munli mu shango yose
katolegwa kudzimu mu gudzo.
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.