Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the command of God our Savior
and Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my genuine child in faith—
grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just as I urged you to remain in Ephesus when I went to Macedonia,
that you might charge certain persons not to teach different doctrine,
nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies
which give rise to controversies
rather than God's stewardship that is by faith.
The goal of the charge is love—
from a pure heart,
and a good conscience,
and a sincere faith.
Some have missed this mark
and have turned aside to empty talk,
desiring to be teachers of the Law
though they understand neither what they are saying
nor the things about which they make confident claims.
Now we know that the Law is good,
if one uses it lawfully,
understanding that the Law is not laid down for the righteous,
but for the lawless and rebellious,
for the ungodly and sinners,
for the unholy and the profane,
for father-killers and mother-killers,
for murderers,
for the sexually immoral,
for men who lie with men,
for enslavers,
for liars,
and for perjurers,
and for whatever else stands opposed to healthy doctrine,
in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God,
with which I was entrusted.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord,
who strengthened me,
because he judged me faithful,
setting me into service,
even though I was formerly a blasphemer,
a persecutor,
and a violent man.
Yet I was shown mercy,
because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
and the grace of our Lord overflowed abundantly
with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Faithful is the saying,
and worthy of full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world
to rescue and restore sinners—
of whom I am the foremost.
But for this reason I received mercy,
that in me, the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience,
as an example for those who would believe in him
for eternal life.
Now to the King of the ages,
immortal, invisible,
the only God—
be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen.
This charge I entrust to you, my child Timothy,
in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you,
that by them you may wage the good warfare,
holding faith and a good conscience,
which some, having thrust away,
have suffered shipwreck regarding the faith.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I have handed over to Satan,
to let the consequences teach them
not to blaspheme.
I urge, therefore, first of all,
that entreaties,
prayers,
petitions,
and thanksgivings
be made on behalf of all people—
for kings and all who are in positions of eminence—
in order that we might lead a tranquil and quiet life,
in all godliness and dignity.
This is good
and acceptable before God our Savior,
who wills all people to be rescued
and brought into recognition of the truth.
For one is God,
and one also mediator between God and humankind—
a human, Christ Jesus—
who gave himself a ransom on behalf of all,
the testimony in its own times.
For this I was set as herald and apostle—
I speak truth, I do not lie—
teacher of the nations,
in faith and truth.
Therefore I intend the men to pray in every place,
lifting holy hands
without anger or dispute.
Likewise, women should adorn themselves in respectable attire,
with reverent restraint and sound judgment—
not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
but with what is fitting for women who profess reverence for God—
through good works.
Let a woman learn in quietness,
in all submission.
But I do not permit a woman to teach
or to exercise authority over a man;
rather, she is to remain in quietness.
For Adam was formed first,
then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived,
but the woman, having been deceived,
has come to be in transgression.
Yet she will be saved through the childbearing—
if they remain in faith and love and holiness,
with sound judgment.
Trustworthy is the saying:
If anyone aspires to oversight, he desires a noble work.
Therefore, it is necessary for the one who watches over to be blameless—
a man of one woman, well-disciplined, sound in mind, friend to strangers,
able to teach;
not beside wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable,
not a lover of money.
The one standing before his own household well,
having children in submission with all dignity.
But if anyone does not know how to stand before his own household,
how will he care for God's assembly?
Not newly planted, in order that having been filled with smoke,
he might not fall into the judgment of the accuser.
But it is also necessary to have a good testimony from those outside,
in order that he might not fall into reproach and a snare of the accuser.
Those who serve likewise must be dignified,
not double-tongued, not given to much wine,
not greedy for dishonest gain,
holding the mystery of the faith
with a clear conscience.
And let these also be tested first;
then let them serve, being unaccused.
Women likewise, dignified,
not slanderers,
temperate,
faithful in all things.
Those who serve must be men of one woman,
standing well before their children
and their own households.
For those who have served well
acquire for themselves a good standing
and great confidence in the faith
that is in Christ Jesus.
These things I write to you,
while hoping to come to you in speed.
But if I delay,
in order that you may know how one must conduct oneself
in the household of God,
which as such is the assembly of the living God,
the pillar and base of the truth.
And, in a manner confessed by all,
great is the mystery of godliness:
Who was revealed in flesh,
was vindicated in spirit,
was seen by angels,
was proclaimed in the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
Now the Spirit says explicitly
that in later times some will stand away from the faith,
devoting themselves to wandering spirits
and to instructions of demons,
through the hypocrisy of liars,
whose own conscience has been seared.
They forbid marriage
and demand abstinence from foods
which God created to be received with thanksgiving
by those who believe and have known the truth.
For everything created by God is good,
and nothing is to be rejected
if it is received with thanksgiving,
for it is made holy
through the word of God
and prayer.
By setting these things before the brothers and sisters,
you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,
being nourished by the words of faith
and of the good instruction that you have followed.
Reject the irreverent and silly myths;
rather, train yourself for godliness.
For bodily training is of some value,
but godliness is valuable for all things,
holding promise for the present life
and for the life to come.
The saying is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance:
For to this end we labor and strive,
because we have set our hope on the living God,
who is Deliverer of all people,
most of all of the faithful.
Command these things
and teach them.
Let no one look down on your youth,
but become an example for the faithful—
in speech,
in conduct,
in love,
in faith,
in purity.
Until I come,
devote yourself to the reading,
to the exhortation,
to the instruction.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you,
which was given to you through prophecy,
with the laying on of hands
by the council of elders.
Practice these things,
be in them,
so that your progress
may be evident to all.
Pay close attention to yourself
and to the instruction;
persevere in them,
for by doing this
you will deliver both yourself
and those who hear you.
Do not rebuke an older man harshly,
but encourage him as a father;
younger men as brothers,
older women as mothers,
younger women as sisters
in all purity.
Honor widows who are truly widows.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren,
let them first learn to practice godliness toward their own household
and to repay their parents—this is pleasing before God.
The truly widow, left all alone,
has set her hope on God
and continues in petitions and prayers night and day;
but the self-indulgent one is dead even while living.
Command these things,
so that they may be above reproach.
If anyone does not provide for his own,
and especially his own household,
he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.
Let a widow be enrolled
not less than sixty years old,
a one-man woman,
having a good testimony in good works—
if she has raised children,
shown hospitality,
washed the feet of the holy ones,
assisted the afflicted,
devoted herself to every good work.
But refuse younger widows,
for when they grow restless against Christ, they desire to marry,
incurring judgment because they set aside their first pledge.
At the same time they learn to be idle,
going about from house to house—
and not only idle, but gossips and busybodies,
speaking things they ought not.
Therefore I want younger widows
to marry,
to raise children,
to manage the household,
to give the adversary no occasion for slander;
for already some have turned aside after Satan.
If any believing woman has widows, let her assist them,
so that the church may assist those who are truly widows.
Let the elders who lead well be considered worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in word and teaching.
For the Scripture says: "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing,"
and, "The worker is worthy of his wages."
Do not receive an accusation against an elder
except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
Those who are sinning,
rebuke before all,
so that the rest also may have reverent fear.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels
to keep these things without prejudice,
doing nothing according to partiality.
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily,
nor share in the sins of others;
keep yourself pure.
No longer drink only water,
but use a little wine
for the sake of your stomach
and your frequent infirmities.
Some people's sins are evident,
going before them to judgment;
but for others,
they follow after.
Likewise also, the good works are evident,
and those that are otherwise cannot remain hidden.
Let all who are slaves
consider their own masters worthy of every honor,
in order that the name of God
and the teaching
be not defamed.
But those who have believing masters
must not think lightly of them because they are brothers;
rather, let them serve all the more,
since those who benefit from their good service
are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things.
If anyone teaches a different doctrine
and does not approach to the sound words—
those of our Lord Jesus Christ—
and to the teaching
that accords with godliness,
he is conceited, understanding nothing,
but is sick about controversies and word battles,
from which comes envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,
constant frictions of people—
having had their mind corrupted
and deprived of the truth—
thinking godliness to be a means of gain.
But godliness with contentment
is great gain.
For nothing have we brought into the world,
because neither are we able to carry anything out.
But having food and coverings,
with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful desires
which sink people into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money
is a root of all evils—
which some, craving after,
have wandered away from the faith
and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God,
run from these things,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
endurance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith;
take hold of the eternal life,
to which you were called
and made the good confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things,
and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession
before Pontius Pilate,
to keep the command spotless, irreproachable,
until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ—
which He will display in His own times:
the Blessed and Only Sovereign,
the King of those who rule as kings
and Lord of those who exercise lordship,
who alone has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light,
whom no one of humankind has seen
nor is able to see.
To Him be honor and eternal might.
Amen.
To the rich in the present age, instruct—
not to be high-minded,
nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches,
but on God—
the One who richly provides all things for us to enjoy,
to do good,
to be rich in good works,
to be generous,
to be sharing,
storing up for themselves
a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold
of the life that is truly life.
O Timothy,
guard the deposit entrusted,
turning away from
the profane empty talk
and the contradictions
of what is falsely called knowledge—
which some, professing,
have missed the mark
concerning the faith.