1 Timothy 1:1–6:21
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, a atrue son in the faith:
bGrace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I urged you cwhen I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may 1charge some dthat they teach no other doctrine, 4 enor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now fthe purpose of the commandment is love gfrom a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from 2sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to hidle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is igood if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is 3contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the jblessed God which was kcommitted to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has lenabled me, mbecause He counted me faithful, nputting me into the ministry, 13 although oI was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an 4insolent man; but I obtained mercy because pI did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 qAnd the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, rwith faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 sThis is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that tChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to uthe King eternal, vimmortal, winvisible, to 5God xwho alone is wise, ybe honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 This 6charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are zHymenaeus and aAlexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to bblaspheme.
2 Therefore I 1exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 afor kings and ball who are in 2authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and 3reverence. 3 For this is cgood and acceptable in the sight dof God our Savior, 4 ewho desires all men to be saved fand to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 gFor there is one God and hone Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 iwho gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 jfor which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth 4in Christ and not lying—ka teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire therefore that the men pray leverywhere, mlifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the nwomen adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and 5moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 obut, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And pI do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a 1bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not 2given to wine, not violent, 3not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not 4covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a 5novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the asnare of the devil.
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, bnot given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the 6mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not 7slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons cobtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and 8ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the 9mystery of godliness:
dGod 1was manifested in the flesh,
eJustified in the Spirit,
fSeen by angels,
gPreached among the Gentiles,
hBelieved on in the world,
iReceived up in glory.
4 Now the Spirit 1expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed ato deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 bspeaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience cseared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is 2sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, dnourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But ereject profane and old wives’ fables, and fexercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For gbodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, hhaving promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end 3we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, iwho is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach.
12 Let no one 4despise your youth, but be an jexample to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, 5in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to 6doctrine. 14 kDo not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy lwith the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
5 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, with all purity.
3 Honor widows who are really widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and ato repay their parents; for this is 1good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers bnight and day. 6 But she who lives in 2pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, cand especially for those of his household, dhe has denied the faith eand is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 But 3refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first 4faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing 5man or woman has widows, let them 6relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, f“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, g“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except hfrom two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.