1 Timothy 2–3

Pray for All People

2First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ^2vfor kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and ^wdignified in every way. ³This is good, and ^xit is pleasing in the sight of ^yGod our Savior, ⁴who desires ^zall people to be saved and ^ato come to ^bthe knowledge of the truth. ⁵For ^cthere is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man¹ Christ Jesus, ^6dwho gave himself as a ransom for all, which is ^ethe testimony given ^fat the proper time. ^7gFor this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (^hI am telling the truth, I am not lying), ⁱa teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸I desire then that ^jin every place the men should pray, ^klifting ^lholy hands without anger or quarreling; ⁹likewise also ^mthat women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, ¹⁰ⁿbut with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. ¹¹Let a woman learn quietly ^owith all submissiveness. ^12pI do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. ^13qFor Adam was formed first, ^rthen Eve; ¹⁴and Adam was not deceived, but ^sthe woman was deceived and became a transgressor. ¹⁵Yet she will be saved through ^tchildbearing—if they continue in ^ufaith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Qualifications for Overseers

3The saying is ^vtrustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^wthe office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Therefore ^xan overseer¹ must be above reproach, ^ythe husband of one wife,^{2 z}sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^ahospitable, ^bable to teach, ³not a drunkard, not violent but ^cgentle, not quarrelsome, ^dnot a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^ekeeping his children submissive, ⁵for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^wGod’s church? ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may ^fbecome puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^goutsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^ha snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸ⁱDeacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^{3 j}not addicted to much wine, ^knot greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹They must ^lhold the mystery of the faith with ^ma clear conscience. ¹⁰And ⁿlet them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ^11oTheir wives likewise⁴ must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^pfaithful in all things. ¹²Let deacons each be ^qthe husband of one wife, ^qmanaging their children and their own households well. ¹³For ^rthose who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, ¹⁵if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. ¹⁶Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

^sHe⁵ was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated⁶ by the Spirit,⁷

^tseen by angels,

^uproclaimed among the nations,

^vbelieved on in the world,

^wtaken up in glory.