1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope; 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you while I was on my way to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach contrary doctrine, 4 nor to cling to myths and endless genealogies—which give rise to useless speculations rather than administration from God that is by faith. 5 The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned. 6 Some, having gone astray from these, have turned away into empty talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, not understanding either what they are saying or the matters about which they themselves make confident assertions.
8 But we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully. 9 Knowing this, that law was not laid down for the righteous one, but for the lawless and rebellious, irreverent and sinners, unholy and profane, father-killers and mother-killers, murderers, 10 sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else lies in opposition to healthy doctrine, 11 according to the glorious good news of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I am thankful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He considered me faithful, appointing me into His service 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent, insolent man. But I was shown mercy, because I acted unknowingly in unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord overfills our vessels with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am most prominent. 16 But through this I was shown mercy, so that in me as the most prominent, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his perfect patience as a prototype for the ones who would believe in Him for life eternal. 17 To the King of eternity, impervious to death, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever, amen.
18 This command I myself have entrusted to you, Timothy my child, according to the prophecies made long ago concerning you, in order that by them you yourself might fight the good fight 19 holding on to faith and good conscience. By rejecting their faith and good conscience some have been shipwrecked concerning the faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given over to Satan, so that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
2 First of all, then, I encourage supplications, prayers, petitions, and praises to be made on behalf of all men, 2 on behalf of kings and all in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all people to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who sacrificed himself as a ransom on behalf of all, the witness at the proper time. 7 Into this I was appointed herald and apostle—I speak the truth, I do not lie—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 Therefore I want men everywhere to pray, lifting holy hands without anger or dispute. 9 Likewise, women are to adorn themselves in appropriate attire, with modesty and good judgment, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing 10 but with what is fitting for women who profess godliness—to be adorned through good works. 11 A woman must learn quietly, with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain in quietness. 13 For Adam was created first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not misled, but the woman, being deceived, has become a transgressor. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if they remain in faith and love and holiness with good judgement.
3 This saying is trustworthy: If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires a good work. 2 Therefore the elder must be irreproachable, a one-woman man, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, a friend of strangers, skillful in teaching, 3 not one who drinks too much wine, not pugnacious; but gentle, peaceable, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control, with all dignity, 5 for if one does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? 6 He must not be a neophyte, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 He must have good testimony from those outside, so that he may not fall into reproach and the trap of the devil.
8 Similarly, deacons must be worthy of respect, not insincere, not occupying themselves with much wine, not fond of dishonest gain, 9 holding to the mystery of faith in clear conscience. 10 And let these first be tested; then, if being beyond reproach, let them serve as deacons. 11 Similarly, wives must be worthy of respect, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be one-woman men and must manage their children and household well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and much boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, 15 but I may be delayed. I write these things so that you might know how one must conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness:
Who was revealed in flesh,
Vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed amongst the peoples,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
4 But the Spirit expressly says that in the last times some will withdraw from the faith giving heed to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through hypocrisy of liars, seared in their own conscience, 3 who forbid marriage, require abstention from foods, which God has created for sharing with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good; reject nothing if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is made holy through the word of God and prayer.
6 In making these things known to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Reject pointless tales of old women. Instead train yourself for godliness. 8 For bodily exercise is of some benefit, but godliness benefits all things as it holds the promise of life now and of life to come. 9 This saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For this we work hard and we agonize, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men, especially believers.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one treat you with contempt due to your youth, but you yourself become an example of the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 13 Until I come occupy yourself with public reading of Scripture, to encouragement, and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands of the elder council. 15 Practice these things, be immersed in them, so that your progress might be visible to all. 16 Take pains with yourself and your teaching, persist in them: for in doing this you will deliver both yourself and your hearers.
5 Do not rebuke an older man but be friendly to him as you would be to a father, be friendly to the younger as you would be to a brother, 2 the older women as you would be to a mother, the younger women as you would be to a sister in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a certain widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice godliness in their own household and to give back to their parents and grandparents, for this is acceptable before God. 5 But the true widow, having been left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers both night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent, though living, is dead. 7 And command these things, so that they may be beyond reproach. 8 But if anyone does not care for his own, especially those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 A widow shall be enrolled unless she is younger than sixty years, a one-man woman, 10 having testimony of good works, if she has raised children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has given relief to the afflicted, if she has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll newer widows: for when they experience strong sexual desires in opposition to Christ, they want to marry 12 incurring judgment because they have broken their previous pledge. 13 At the same time they learn to be lazy, going around to houses. They are not only lazy but are also gossipy and nosey, talking about things that are not necessary. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to marry, have children, manage the house, giving the adversary no occasion for abuse. 15 For already some have turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her give relief to them and do not burden the church, so that it can provide relief for true widows.
17 The elders who lead well are considered worthy of double honor, especially the ones who work hard in speaking and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle a threshing ox” and “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those continuing in sin you are to rebuke before everyone, so that the remaining elders might have fear. 21 I solemnly urge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, so that these you might observe without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not hastily lay hands upon another; nor be partner in the sins of others: keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine on account of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
24 The sins of some men are quite obvious, going before them into judgment, but the sins of others come along later. 25 Likewise also, good works are quite obvious and those that are not cannot remain hidden.
6 All who are under a yoke as slaves, let them consider their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and our teaching might not be maligned. 2 But those having believers as masters must not be disrespectful because they are brothers, rather they must serve more, because the ones who benefit from their good work are believers and beloved.
Command and teach these things. 3 If anyone teaches divergently and does not devote himself to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the godly teaching, 4 he has become foolish and understands nothing, but has an aching for debate and heated arguments, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive speech, evil suspicions, 5 and constant wranglings between men depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, thinking godliness to be the means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is a means of great gain; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, so we aren’t able to take anything out of it. 8 But having means of food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some striving for it were led astray from the faith and pierced themselves in many pangs.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, grasp the eternal life, into which you were called, and you confessed the good confession before many witnesses. 13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without fault or irreproachable conduct until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time; he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, which no men have seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion, amen.
17 To those who are rich in this present age, command them to avoid being snooty or fixing their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather command them to fix their hopes on God who richly provides to us all things for enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they themselves might grasp that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worthless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge”, 21 which some have professed concerning the faith and thus have deviated.
Grace be with you all.
Copyright © 2004 by Rick Brannan.
All Rights Reserved.