Paul’s First Letter to
Timothy
1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according
to the commandment of God our Savior, and
Christ Jesus our hope; 1:2to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace,
mercy, and peace, from God our Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord.
1:3As I exhorted you to stay at Ephesus when
I was going into Macedonia, that you might
charge certain men not to teach a different
doctrine, 1:4neither to pay attention
to myths and endless genealogies, which
cause disputes, rather than God's stewardship,
which is in faith--1:5but the end of the
charge is love, out of a pure heart and
a good conscience and unfeigned faith; 1:6from which things some, having missed
the mark, have turned aside to vain talking;
1:7desiring to be teachers
of the law, though they understand neither
what they say, nor about what they strongly
affirm. 1:8But we know that
the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,
1:9as knowing this,
that law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and insubordinate, for
the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy
and profane, for murderers of fathers and
murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals,
for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers,
and for any other thing contrary to the
sound doctrine; 1:11according to the
Gospel of the glory of the blessed God,
which was committed to my trust. 1:12And I thank him who enabled me, Christ
Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful,
appointing me to service; 1:13although I was before a blasphemer, a
persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained
mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1:14The grace of our
Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and
love which is in Christ Jesus. 1:15The saying is faithful and worthy of
all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners; of whom I am
chief. 1:16However, for this cause I obtained mercy,
that in me first, Jesus Christ might display
all his patience, for an example of those
who were going to believe in him for eternal
life. 1:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen.
1:18This charge I commit to you, my child
Timothy, according to the prophecies which
led the way to you, that by them you may
wage the good warfare; 1:19holding faith and
a good conscience; which some having thrust
away made a shipwreck concerning the faith;
1:20of whom is Hymenaeus
and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan,
that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
2:1I exhort therefore, first of all, that
petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings
of thanks, be made for all men: 2:2for kings and all who are in high places;
that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life
in all godliness and reverence. 2:3For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior; 2:4who desires all people to be saved and
come to full knowledge of the truth. 2:5For there is one
God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, 2:6who gave himself as a ransom for all;
the testimony in its own times; 2:7to which I was appointed
a preacher and an apostle (I am telling
the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher
of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
2:8I desire therefore that the men in every
place pray, lifting up holy hands without
wrath and doubting. 2:9In the same way, that women also adorn
themselves in decent clothing, with modesty
and propriety; not just with braided hair,
gold, pearls, or expensive clothing; 2:10but (which becomes women professing godliness)
with good works. 2:11Let a woman learn
in quietness with all subjection. 2:12But I don't permit
a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority
over a man, but to be in quietness. 2:13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
2:14Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman,
being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;
2:15but she will be
saved through her child-bearing, if they
continue in faith, love, and sanctification
with sobriety.
3:1This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks
the office of an overseer,
he desires a good work. 3:2The overseer therefore must be without
reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
3:3not a drinker, not violent, not greedy
for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome,
not covetous; 3:4one who rules his own house well, having
children in subjection with all reverence;
3:5(but if a man doesn't
know how to rule his own house, how will
he take care of the assembly of God?) 3:6not a new convert, lest being puffed up
he fall into the same condemnation as the
devil. 3:7Moreover he must have good testimony from
those who are outside, to avoid falling
into reproach and the snare of the devil.
3:8Deacons, in the same
way, must be reverent, not double-tongued,
not addicted to much wine, not greedy for
money; 3:9holding the mystery of the faith in a
pure conscience. 3:10Let them also first be tested; then let
them serve as deacons, if they are blameless.
3:11Their wives in the same way must be reverent,
not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all
things. 3:12Let deacons be husbands of one wife,
ruling their children and their own houses
well. 3:13For those who have served well as deacons
gain to themselves a good standing, and
great boldness in the faith which is in
Christ Jesus.
3:14These things I write to you, hoping to
come to you shortly; 3:15but if I wait long, that you may know
how men ought to behave themselves in the
house of God, which is the assembly of the
living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth. 3:16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness
is great:
God was revealed in the flesh,
Justified
in the spirit,
Seen
by angels,
Preached
among the nations,
Believed
on in the world,
And
received up in glory.
4:1But the Spirit says expressly that in
later times some will fall away from the
faith, paying attention to seducing spirits
and doctrines of demons, 4:2through the hypocrisy
of men who speak lies, branded in their
own conscience as with a hot iron; 4:3forbidding marriage and commanding to
abstain from foods which God created to
be received with thanksgiving by those who
believe and know the truth. 4:4For every creature
of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected,
if it is received with thanksgiving. 4:5For it is sanctified through the word
of God and prayer. 4:6If you instruct the brothers of these
things, you will be a good servant of Christ
Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith,
and of the good doctrine which you have
followed. 4:7But refuse profane and old wives' fables.
Exercise yourself toward godliness. 4:8For bodily exercise
has some value, but godliness has value
for all things, having the promise of the
life which is now, and of that which is
to come. 4:9This saying is faithful and worthy of
all acceptance. 4:10For to this end we both labor and suffer
reproach, because we have set our trust
in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, especially of those who believe.
4:11Command and teach these things.
4:12Let no man despise your youth; but be
an example to those who believe, in word,
in your way of life, in love, in spirit,
in faith, and in purity. 4:13Until I come, pay
attention to reading, to exhortation, and
to teaching. 4:14Don't neglect the gift that is in you,
which was given to you by prophecy, with
the laying on of the hands of the elders.
4:15Be diligent in these things. Give yourself
wholly to them, that your progress may be
revealed to all. 4:16Pay attention to yourself, and to your
teaching. Continue in these things, for
in doing this you will save both yourself
and those who hear you.
5:1Don't rebuke an older man, but exhort
him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
5:2the elder women
as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all
purity. 5:3Honor widows who are widows indeed. 5:4But if any widow has children or grandchildren,
let them learn first to show piety towards
their own family, and to repay their parents,
for this is* acceptable in the sight of
God. 5:5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate,
has her hope set on God, and continues in
petitions and prayers night and day. 5:6But she who gives herself to pleasure
is dead while she lives. 5:7Also command these
things, that they may be without reproach.
5:8But if anyone doesn't
provide for his own, and especially his
own household, he has denied the faith,
and is worse than an unbeliever. 5:9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under
sixty years old, having been the wife of
one man, 5:10being approved by good works, if she
has brought up children, if she has been
hospitable to strangers, if she has washed
the saints' feet, if she has relieved the
afflicted, and if she has diligently followed
every good work.
5:11But refuse younger widows, for when they
have grown wanton against Christ, they desire
to marry; 5:12having condemnation, because they have
rejected their first pledge. 5:13Besides, they also
learn to be idle, going about from house
to house. Not only idle, but also gossips
and busybodies, saying things which they
ought not. 5:14I desire therefore that the younger widows
marry, bear children, rule the household,
and give no occasion to the adversary for
reviling. 5:15For already some
have turned aside after Satan. 5:16If any man or woman
who believes has widows, let them relieve
them, and don't let the assembly be burdened;
that it might relieve those who are widows
indeed.
5:17Let the elders who rule well be counted
worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in the word and in teaching. 5:18For the Scripture says, "You shall
not muzzle the ox when it treads out the
grain." And, "The laborer is worthy
of his wages."
5:19Don't receive an accusation against an
elder, except at the word of two or three
witnesses. 5:20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of
all, that the rest also may be in fear.
5:21I charge you in
the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and
the chosen angels, that you observe these
things without prejudice, doing nothing
by partiality. 5:22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither
be a participant in other men's sins. Keep
yourself pure. 5:23Be no longer a drinker of water only,
but use a little wine for your stomach's
sake and your frequent infirmities.
5:24Some men's sins are evident, preceding
them to judgment, and some also follow later.
5:25In the same way also there are good works
that are obvious, and those that are otherwise
can't be hidden.
6:1Let as many as are bondservants under
the yoke count their own masters worthy
of all honor, that the name of God and the
doctrine not be blasphemed. 6:2Those who have believing
masters, let them not despise them, because
they are brothers, but rather let them serve
them, because those who partake of the benefit
are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort
these things.
6:3If anyone teaches a different doctrine,
and doesn't consent to sound words, the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness,
6:4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but
obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word
battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling,
evil suspicions, 6:5constant friction
of people of corrupt minds and destitute
of the truth, who suppose that godliness
is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from
such.
6:6But godliness with contentment is great
gain. 6:7For we brought nothing into the world,
and we certainly can't carry anything out.
6:8But having food
and clothing, we will be content with that.
6:9But those who are
determined to be rich fall into a temptation
and a snare and many foolish and harmful
lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
6:10For the love of money is a root of all
kinds of evil. Some have been led astray
from the faith in their greed, and have
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:11But you, man of God, flee these things,
and follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 6:12Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold
of the eternal life to which you were called,
and you confessed the good confession in
the sight of many witnesses. 6:13I charge you before
God, who gives life to all things, and before
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
testified the good confession, 6:14that you keep the
commandment without spot, blameless, until
the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
6:15which in its own times he will show,
who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King
of kings, and Lord of lords; 6:16who alone has immortality, dwelling in
unapproachable light; whom no man has seen,
nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal
power. Amen.
6:17Charge those who are rich in this present
world that they not be haughty, nor have
their hope set on the uncertainty of riches,
but on the living God, who richly provides
us with everything to enjoy; 6:18that they do good, that they be rich
in good works, that they be ready to distribute,
willing to communicate; 6:19laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that
they may lay hold of eternal life.
6:20Timothy, guard that which is committed
to you, turning away from the empty chatter
and oppositions of the knowledge which is
falsely so called; 6:21which some professing
have erred concerning the faith. Grace be
with you. Amen.
Notes:
[1] back
to 3:1 Or, bishop
[2] back
to 3:8 The word for "deacons"
literally means "servants."
[3] back to 5:4 TR adds "good and"
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