1 Timothy 2–3

¹I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: ²for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity, ³for this is right and acceptable before God our Saviour, ⁴who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth; ⁵for one is God, one also is mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who did give himself a ransom for all—the testimony in its own times— ⁷in regard to which I was set a preacher and apostle—truth I say in Christ, I do not lie—a teacher of nations, in faith and truth. ⁸I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning.

⁹In like manner also the women, in becoming apparel, with modesty and sobriety to adorn themselves, not in braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or garments of great price, ¹⁰but—which becometh women professing godly piety—through good works. ¹¹Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection, ¹²and a woman I do not suffer to teach, nor to rule a husband, but to be in quietness, ¹³for Adam was first formed, then Eve, ¹⁴and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, into transgression came, ¹⁵and she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they remain in faith, and love, and sanctification, with sobriety.

Chapter 3

¹Stedfast is the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; ²it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach, ³not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money, ⁴his own house leading well, having children in subjection with all gravity, ⁵(and if any one his own house how to lead hath not known, how an assembly of God shall he take care of?) ⁶not a new convert, lest having been puffed up he may fall to a judgment of the devil; ⁷and it behoveth him also to have a good testimony from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.

⁸Ministrants—in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre, ⁹having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience, ¹⁰and let these also first be proved, then let them minister, being unblameable. ¹¹Women—in like manner grave, not false accusers, vigilant, faithful in all things. ¹²Ministrants—let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses, ¹³for those who did minister well a good step to themselves do acquire, and much boldness in faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴These things I write to thee, hoping to come unto thee soon, ¹⁵and if I delay, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is an assembly of the living God—a pillar and foundation of the truth, ¹⁶and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety—God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

Chapter 4