1 Timothy 2:1–3:13

Exhortation to Prayer

¹First of all, then, I exhort that ^apetitions and prayers, requests and thanksgivings, be made for all men,

^2afor kings and all who are in ¹authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and ²dignity.

³This is good and acceptable in the sight of ^aGod our Savior,

^4awho desires all men to be ^bsaved and to ^ccome to the ¹full knowledge of the truth.

⁵For there is ^aone God, and ^bone mediator also between God and men, the ^cman Christ Jesus,

⁶who ^agave Himself as a ransom for all, the ^bwitness for ^1cthis proper time.

^7aFor this I was appointed a ¹preacher and ^ban apostle (^cI am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of ^dthe Gentiles in faith and truth.

⁸Therefore ^aI want the men ^bin every place to pray, ^clifting up ^dholy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Instructions for Women

⁹Likewise, I want ^awomen to adorn themselves with proper clothing, with modesty and self-restraint, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing,

¹⁰but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women professing godliness.

^11aA woman must learn in quietness, in all submission.

^12aBut I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

^13aFor it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve.

¹⁴And it was not Adam who was deceived, but ^athe woman being deceived, ¹fell into trespass.

¹⁵But she will be ¹saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in ^afaith and love and sanctification with self-restraint.

CHAPTER 3

Overseers and Deacons

^1aIt is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the ^boffice of ¹overseer, he desires a good work.

^21aAn overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^bthe husband of one wife, ^ctemperate, sensible, respectable, ^dhospitable, ^eable to teach,

^3anot addicted to wine ¹or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, ^bfree from the love of money;

^4aleading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity

⁵(but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of ^athe church of God?),

⁶and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^aconceited and fall into the ^bcondemnation of the devil.

⁷And he must ^ahave a good reputation with ^bthose outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and ^cthe snare of the devil.

^8aDeacons likewise must be dignified, not ¹double-tongued, ^bnot indulging in much wine, ^cnot fond of dishonest gain,

^9abut holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

^10aAnd these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.

¹¹¹Women must likewise be dignified, ^anot malicious gossips, but ^btemperate, faithful in all things.

^12aDeacons must be ^bhusbands of only one wife, ^cleading their children and their own households well.

¹³For those who have served well as deacons ^aobtain for themselves a ¹high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.