Paul's First Letter to Timothy
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Chapter 1
^1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God
our Savior, and Christ Jesus our hope;
^2to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God
our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
^3As I exhorted you to stay at Ephesus when I was going into Macedonia,
that you might charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,
^4neither to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which
cause disputes, rather than God's stewardship, which is in faith"
^5but the end of the charge is love, out of a pure heart and a good
conscience and unfeigned faith;
^6from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned aside to
vain talking;
^7desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither
what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm.
^8But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,
^9as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the
unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers,
^10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for
liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound
doctrine;
^11according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which
was committed to my trust.
^12And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he
counted me faithful, appointing me to service;
^13although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent.
However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
^14The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which
is in Christ Jesus.
^15The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
^16However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus
Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were
going to believe in him for eternal life.
^17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is
wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
^18This charge I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to the
prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you may wage the good
warfare;
^19holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away
made a shipwreck concerning the faith;
^20of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan, that
they might be taught not to blaspheme.
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Chapter 2
^1I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers,
intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:
^2for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil
and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.
^3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
^4who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the
truth.
^5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus,
^6who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;
^7to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the
truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
truth.
^8I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy
hands without wrath and doubting.
^9In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing,
with modesty and propriety; not just with braided hair, gold, pearls,
or expensive clothing;
^10but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.
^11Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.
^12But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over
a man, but to be in quietness.
^13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
^14Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into
disobedience;
^15but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in
faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.
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Chapter 3
^1This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer
[307] , he desires a good work.
^2The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one
wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;
^3not a drinker, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not covetous;
^4one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with
all reverence;
^5(but if a man doesn't know how to rule his own house, how will he
take care of the assembly of God?)
^6not a new convert, lest being puffed up he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil.
^7Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to
avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.
^8Deacons [308] , in the same way, must be reverent, not
double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money;
^9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
^10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, if
they are blameless.
^11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers,
temperate, faithful in all things.
^12Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their
own houses well.
^13For those who have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good
standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
^14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
^15but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave
themselves in the house of God, which is the assembly of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
^16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:
God was revealed in the flesh,
Justified in the spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
And received up in glory.
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[307] Or, bishop
[308] The word for "deacons" literally means "servants."
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Chapter 4
^1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away
from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of
demons,
^2through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own
conscience as with a hot iron;
^3forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God
created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know
the truth.
^4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if
it is received with thanksgiving.
^5For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
^6If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good
servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of
the good doctrine which you have followed.
^7But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward
godliness.
^8For bodily exercise has some value, but godliness has value for all
things, having the promise of the life which is now, and of that which
is to come.
^9This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.
^10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have
set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men,
especially of those who believe.
^11Command and teach these things.
^12Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who
believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith,
and in purity.
^13Until I come, pay attention to reading, to exhortation, and to
teaching.
^14Don't neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.
^15Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your
progress may be revealed to all.
^16Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these
things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who
hear you.
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Chapter 5
^1Don't rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger
men as brothers;
^2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
^3Honor widows who are widows indeed.
^4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first
to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for
this is [309] acceptable in the sight of God.
^5Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God,
and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
^6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
^7Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
^8But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own
household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
^9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been
the wife of one man,
^10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she
has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet,
if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed
every good work.
^11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against
Christ, they desire to marry;
^12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
^13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to
house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things
which they ought not.
^14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children,
rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling.
^15For already some have turned aside after Satan.
^16If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them,
and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who
are widows indeed.
^17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
^18For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads
out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
^19Don't receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of
two or three witnesses.
^20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may
be in fear.
^21I charge you in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the chosen
angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing
by partiality.
^22Lay hands hastily on no one, neither be a participant in other men's
sins. Keep yourself pure.
^23Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your
stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.
^24Some men's sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some
also follow later.
^25In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and
those that are otherwise can't be hidden.
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[309] TR adds "good and"
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Chapter 6
^1Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own
masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not
be blasphemed.
^2Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because
they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who
partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort
these things.
^3If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound
words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness,
^4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments,
disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, reviling,
evil suspicions,
^5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the
truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself
from such.
^6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
^7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry
anything out.
^8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
^9But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a
snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and
destruction.
^10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been
led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves
through with many sorrows.
^11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
^12Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which
you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of
many witnesses.
^13I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,
^14that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the
appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
^15which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only
Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
^16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no
man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
^17Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be
haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on
the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
^18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be
ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
^19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time
to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
^20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the
empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so
called;
^21which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with
you. Amen.
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