1 Timothy 2:1–3:13

Church Worship

2First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; ²for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct. ³This is good and it pleases God our Saviour, ⁴who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth. ⁵For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself to redeem everyone. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved, ^7*and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth!

⁸In every church service I want the men to pray, men who are dedicated to God and can lift up their hands in prayer without anger or argument. ^9*I also want the women to be modest and sensible about their clothes and to dress properly; not with fancy hair styles or with gold ornaments or pearls or expensive dresses, ¹⁰but with good deeds, as is proper for women who claim to be religious. ¹¹Women should learn in silence and all humility. ¹²I do not allow them to teach or to have authority over men; they must keep quiet. ^13*For Adam was created first, and then Eve. ^14*And it was not Adam who was deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and broke God’s law. ¹⁵But a woman will be saved through having children,^a if she perseveres^b in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

Leaders in the Church

3This is a true saying: if a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work. ^2*A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife,^c be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach; ^3*he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money; ^4*he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect. ^5*For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? ^6*He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was. ^7*He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil’s trap.

Helpers in the Church

⁸Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money; ⁹they should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve. ¹¹Their wives^d also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything. ¹²A church helper must have only one wife,^e and be able to manage his children and family well. ¹³Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.