2Therefore, I urge first of all that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people, ²on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. ³This is good and acceptable before God our Savior, ⁴who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time, ⁷for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am speaking the truth, I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. ⁸Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and dispute.

Instructions for Women

⁹Likewise also the women should adorn themselves in appropriate clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold jewelry or pearls or expensive clothing, ¹⁰but with good deeds which are fitting for women who profess godliness. ¹¹A woman must learn in quietness with all submission. ¹²But I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet^a. ¹³For Adam was formed first, then Eve, ¹⁴and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she^* was deceived, came into transgression. ¹⁵But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.

Qualifications for Overseers

3The saying is trustworthy: if anyone aspires to supervision, he desires a good work. ²Therefore the overseer must be irreproachable, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching, ³not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money, ⁴managing his own household well, having children in submission with all dignity ⁵(but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), ⁶not newly converted, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷But he must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸Deacons likewise must be dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain, ⁹holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, ¹⁰and these also must be tested first; then let them serve if they^* are above reproach. ¹¹The wives^a likewise must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹²Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³For those who have served well acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness Described

¹⁴I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you in a short time. ¹⁵But if I am delayed, I am writing^* in order that you may know how one must conduct oneself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and mainstay^b of the truth. ¹⁶And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness:

Who was revealed in the flesh,

was vindicated by^c the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was proclaimed among the Gentiles^d,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

aLiterally “to be in quietness”
*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was deceived”) which is understood as causal
*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as conditional
aOr “The women”
*The words “I am writing” are not in the Greek text, but are an understood repetition from the previous clause
bOr “basis”; or “support”
cOr perhaps “in”
dOr “nations”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context