1 Timothy 4–6

Demonic Influence

4Now the Spirit ^vexplicitly says that in later times ^wsome will depart from the faith, ^xpaying attention to deceitful spirits ^yand the teachings of demons, ^z2through the hypocrisy ^aof liars whose consciences ^bare seared. ³They forbid marriage ^cand demand abstinence ^dfrom foods that God created ^eto be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For everything created by God is good, ^fand nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ^g5since it is sanctified by the word of God ^hand by prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith ⁱand the good teaching that you have followed. ^j7But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. ^kRather, train yourself in godliness, ^l8for

the training of the body has a limited benefit, ^m

but godliness is beneficial in every way,

since it holds promise for the present life

and also for the life to come. ⁿ

⁹This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. ^o10In fact, we labor and strive ^pfor this, because we have put our hope in the living God, ^qwho is the Savior ^rof everyone, ^sespecially of those who believe.

Instructions for Ministry

¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹²Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, ^tin conduct, ^uin love, ^vwin faith, in purity. ^x13Until I come, ^ygive your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, ^zwith the laying on of hands ^aby the council of elders. ¹⁵Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save ^bboth yourself and your hearers. ^c

5Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.

The Support of Widows

³Support ^dwidows ^ewho are genuinely widows. ⁴But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God. ⁵The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God ^fand continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; ⁶however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. ^g7Command this also, so they won’t be blamed. ⁸But if anyone does not provide ^hfor his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith ⁱand is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow should be placed on the official support list ^junless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband, ¹⁰and is well known for good works ^k—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, ^lwashed the saints’ feet, ^mhelped the afflicted, ⁿand devoted herself to every good work. ^o11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry ^p12and will therefore receive condemnation ^qbecause they have renounced their original pledge. ¹³At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips ^rand busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say. ¹⁴Therefore, I want younger women to marry, ^shave children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. ^t15For some have already turned away ^uto follow Satan. ¹⁶If any ^vbelieving woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

Honoring the Elders

¹⁷The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, ^wespecially those who work hard ^xat preaching and teaching. ¹⁸For the Scripture says:

Do not muzzle an ox

while it is treading out the grain, ^yzand,

the worker is worthy of his wages. ^a

¹⁹Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. ^b20Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid. ²¹I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe ^cthese things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. ²²Don’t be too quick to appoint ^deanyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. ^f23Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. ²⁴Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment, ^gbut the sins of others surface ^hlater. ²⁵Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Honoring Masters

6All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters ⁱto be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name ^jand His teaching will not be blasphemed. ²Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. ^k

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things. ³If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord ^lJesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, ^m4he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. ⁿFrom these come envy, ^oquarreling, ^pslander, ^qevil suspicions, ⁵and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness ^ris a way to material gain. ^st6But godliness with contentment is a great gain. ^u

⁷For we brought nothing into the world,

and ^vwe can take nothing out. ^w

⁸But if we have food and clothing, ^x

we will be content with these.

⁹But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root ^yof all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith ^zand pierced themselves with many pains.

Fight the Good Fight

¹¹But you, man of God, run from these things,

and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, ^aendurance, ^band gentleness.

¹²Fight the good fight ^cfor the faith;

take hold of eternal life ^d

that you were called to

and have made a good confession about

in the presence of many witnesses.

¹³In the presence of God, who gives life to all, ^eand of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, ^fI charge you ¹⁴to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing ^gof our Lord ^hJesus Christ. ¹⁵God will bring this about in His own time. ⁱHe is

the blessed and only ^jSovereign,

the King of kings, ^k

and the Lord of lords, ^l

¹⁶the only One who has immortality,

dwelling in unapproachable light; ^m

no one has seen or can see Him, ⁿ

to Him be honor and eternal might. ^o

Amen. ^p

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant ^qor to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, ^rwho richly provides us with all things ^sto enjoy. ¹⁸Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, ^tto be generous, willing to share, ^u19storing up for themselves a good reserve ^vfor the age to come, ^wso that they may take hold of life that is real.

Guard the Heritage

²⁰Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, ^xavoiding ^yirreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name. ^z21By professing it, some ^apeople have deviated from the faith. ^b

Grace be with all of you.