1 Timothy
Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope, 2 to Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you can command certain ones not to teach differently, 4 and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which promote arguments rather than the stewardship of God, which {is} by faith. 5 Now the goal of this command is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith, 6 from which some, having missed the mark, have turned away to foolish talk, 7 wanting to be teachers of the law, not understanding either what they are saying or about which they make confident affirmations. 8 But we know that the law (is) good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this, that the law is not made for the righteous, but for the lawless and the rebellious, the ungodly and the sinful, the godless and the profane, father-killers and mother-killers, man-slayers, 10 the immoral, male-liers, man-stealers, liars, perjurers, and if anything else is contrary to healthy teaching, 11 according to the gospel of glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I have gratitude to the one who strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy, placing me into service, 13 formerly being a blasphemer and a persecutor and an aggresor, but I was shown mercy because not knowing, I acted in unfaithfulness. 14 Indeed, the grace of our Lord overflowed with the faith and love that {are} in Christ Jesus. 15 This word {is} trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—of whom I am the first. 16 But for this reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the first, Jesus Christ might demonstrate all patience as an example for those who would trust in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, {be} honor and glory to eternity forever. Amen.
18 This command I am placing before you, {my} child, Timothy, in accordance with the earlier prophecies about you, that by them you might fight the good fight, 19 holding faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, have shipwrecked regarding the faith, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given over to Satan so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
Chapter 2
1 I urge, therefore, first of all, for requests, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings to be made for all men, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This {is} good and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For {there is} one God, and one mediator of God and of men—the man Christ Jesus, 6 the one who gave himself {as} a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times, 7 for which I was made a herald and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying—a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and argument, 9 likewise women to adorn themselves in proper attire, with modesty and self-control, not in braids and gold, or pearls, or expensive clothing, 10 but what befits women professing godliness, through good works. 11 Let a woman learn in quietness, in all submission. 12 But I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve, 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, came into transgression. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if they remain in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
Chapter 3
1 This word {is} trustworthy: “If someone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” 2 Therefore, the overseer must be irreproachable, a husband of one wife, sober, self-controlled, orderly, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not a brawler, but gentle, peaceful, not money-loving, 4 managing {his} own household well, having children in obedience with all honor 5 (for if someone does not know how to manage {his} own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 not a new convert, so that he may not fall, being puffed up, into the judgment of the devil. 7 But he must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil. 8 Likewise deacons {must be} dignified, not double-talkers, not indulging in much wine, not greedy, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve, being blameless. 11 Likewise the women {must be} dignified, not slanderers, sober, trustworthy in everything. 12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing {their} own children and households well. 13 For those having served well acquire for themselves a good standing and much confidence in the faith that {is} in Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you in quickness, 15 but if I delay, so that you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth. 16 Indeed, admittedly great is the mystery of godliness:
“Who was revealed in flesh,
was justified in the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was proclaimed among the nations,
was believed in the world,
was taken up in glory.”
Chapter 4
1 Now the Spirit says specifically that in later times some will leave the faith, attending to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars, {their} own consciences having been seared, 3 forbidding to marry, to abstain from foods that God created for receiving with thanksgiving by the faithful and the ones knowing the truth. 4 For every creation of God {is} good, and nothing being received with thanksgiving {is} vile, 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 Placing these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 But reject the profane and old-womanish myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness, 8 for “bodily training is valuable for a little, but godliness is valuable for all things, having promise for this present life and the coming one.” 9 That word {is} trustworthy and worthy of all acceptance, 10 for unto this we toil and struggle, because we have hoped in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, attend to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy, with the imposition of the hands of the elders. 15 Study these things, be in them, so that your progress may be apparent to all. 16 Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching. Continue in these things, for, doing this, you will save both yourself and your listeners.
Chapter 5
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows—real widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, first let them learn to honor {their} own household and to make repayment to {their} forebears, for this is pleasing before God. 5 But the genuine and left-alone widow hopes in God and continues in requests and prayers night and day. 6 But the one cavorting, living, has died. 7 Also command these things, so that they may be irreproachable. 8 But if someone does not provide for his own, and especially for household members, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled being not less than 60 years old, a wife of one husband, 10 attested in good works: if she has raised children, if she has received strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has pursued every good work. 11 But refuse younger widows, because when they become wanton against Christ, they want to marry, 12 having judgment because they have broken {their} first pledge. 13 But at the same time, they also learn to be lazy, wandering about the houses, and not only lazy, but also babblers and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 Therefore, I want younger ones to marry, bear children, manage a household, give no opportunity for slander to the one opposing. 15 For already some have turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows, let her help them, and let the church not be weighed down, so that it may help the genuine widows.
17 The elders having ruled well, let them be considered worthy of double honor, especially the ones toiling in the word and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You will not muzzle a threshing ox,” and, “The worker {is} worthy of his wages.” 19 Against an elder do not receive an accusation, except if on two or three witnesses. 20 The ones sinning, rebuke before all, so that the rest also may have fear. 21 I adjure you, before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, that you keep these things without partiality, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Place hands hastily on no one, nor share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some men are evident, going ahead into judgment, but also they follow after some. 25 Likewise, good works {are} also evident, and the ones having otherwise are not able to be hidden.
Chapter 6
1 As many slaves as are under the yoke, let them regard {their} own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. 2 But the ones having believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but let them serve them more, because they are believers and beloved, the ones partaking of the service. Teach and encourage these things.
3 If anyone is teaching differently and does not accede to the healthy words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching according to godliness, 4 he is puffed up, understanding nothing, but being sick about controversies and word-battles, from which come envy, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions, 5 friction, between men having been corrupted {as to} the mind and having been deprived of the truth, considering godliness to be a means of gain. [1] 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, so that neither are we able to take anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, with these we will be satisfied. 9 Now the ones wanting to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, whatever plunges men into ruin and destruction. 10 For a root of all evils is the love of money, which, some desiring, have been led away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, grasp eternal life, to which you were called and confessed the good confession before many witnesses. 13 I command you before God, the one enlivening all, and Christ Jesus, the one having testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 {that} you keep the commandment spotless, irreproachable, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 whom in its own times the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal, 16 the One having immortality alone, occupying unapproachable light, whom none of men has seen, nor is able to see, to whom {be} honor and eternal power. Amen.
17 Command the rich in the present age not to be proud, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, the one providing us all things richly unto enjoyment, 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for what is coming, so that they may grasp genuine life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit, avoiding the profane chatter and contradictions of miscalled knowledge, 21 which some, professing, have missed the mark regarding the faith. Grace {be} with you.