1 Timothy 1–3

GREETING

1Paul,^a an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command^b of God our Savior^c and of Christ Jesus our hope:^d

²To Timothy,^e my true son in the faith.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the^A Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

FALSE DOCTRINE AND MISUSE OF THE LAW

³As I urged you when I went to Macedonia,^f remain in Ephesus^g so that you may instruct certain people^h not to teach false doctrine ⁴or to pay attention to mythsⁱ and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan,^j which operates by faith. ⁵Now the goal of our instruction is love^k that comes from a pure heart,^l a good conscience,^m and a sincere faith.^{n 6}Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. ⁷They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. ⁸But we know that the law is good,^o provided one uses it legitimately. ⁹We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious,^p for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰for the sexually immoral^q and males who have sex with males,^r for slave traders, liars,^s perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching^{t 11}that conforms to the gospel^u concerning the glory of the blessed God,^v which was entrusted to me.^w

PAUL’S TESTIMONY

¹²I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened^x me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer,^y a persecutor,^z and an arrogant man.^aa But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, ¹⁴and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵This saying is trustworthy^ab and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world^ac to save sinners”^ad—and I am the worst of them.^{ae 16}But I received mercy^af for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience^ag as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.^{ah 17}Now to the King^ai eternal,^aj immortal,^ak invisible, the only^B God,^al be honor^am and glory^an forever and ever. Amen.^ao

ENGAGE IN BATTLE

¹⁸Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies^ap previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, ¹⁹having faith^aq and a good conscience,^ar which some^as have rejected and have shipwrecked their faith. ²⁰Among them are Hymenaeus^at and Alexander,^au whom I have delivered to Satan,^av so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

INSTRUCTIONS ON PRAYER

2First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, ²for kings and all those who are in authority,^aw so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness^ax and dignity.^{ay 3}This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,^{az 4}who wants everyone^ba to be saved^bb and to come to the knowledge of the truth.^bc

⁵For there is one God^bd and one mediator^be between God and mankind, the man^bf Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all,^bg a testimony at the proper time.

⁷For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle^bh (I am telling the truth;^A I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles^bi in faith and truth.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MEN AND WOMEN

⁸Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.^{bj 9}Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing,^a with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold,^b pearls, or expensive apparel, ¹⁰but with good works,^c as is proper for women who profess to worship God. ¹¹A woman is to learn quietly with full submission.^{d 12}I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to remain quiet. ¹³For Adam was formed first, then Eve.^{e 14}And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.^{f 15}But she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness,^g with good sense.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEERS AND DEACONS

3This saying is trustworthy:^h “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,^Bi he desires a noble work.” ²An overseer,^j therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,^k respectable, hospitable,^l able to teach, ³not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.^{m 4}He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) ⁶He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.^{n 7}Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s^o trap.

⁸Deacons,^p likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, ⁹holding the mystery of the faith^q with a clear conscience.^{r 10}They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. ¹¹Wives,^Cs likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,^t faithful in everything. ¹²Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. ¹³For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

¹⁴I write these things to you, hoping to come^u to you soon. ¹⁵But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household,^v which is the church of the living God,^w the pillar and foundation of the truth.^{x 16}And most certainly, the mystery of godliness^y is great:

He^A was manifested in the flesh,^z

vindicated in the Spirit,^aa

seen by angels,

preached among the nations,

believed^ab on in the world,

taken up in glory.^ac