Category: 1 Timothy

[1:1] From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by order of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope—

[1:2] To Timothy, my true son in the faith: May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

[1:3] I want you to stay in Ephesus, just as I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia. Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop.

[1:4] Tell them to give up those legends and those long lists of ancestors, which only produce arguments; they do not serve God's plan, which is known by faith.

[1:5] The purpose of this order is to arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith.

[1:6] Some people have turned away from these and have lost their way in foolish discussions.

[1:7] They want to be teachers of God's law, but they do not understand their own words or the matters about which they speak with so much confidence.

[1:8] We know that the Law is good if it is used as it should be used.

[1:9] It must be remembered, of course, that laws are made, not for good people, but for lawbreakers and criminals, for the godless and sinful, for those who are not religious or spiritual, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

[1:10] for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for kidnappers, for those who lie and give false testimony or who do anything else contrary to sound doctrine.

[1:11] That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God.

[1:12] I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work. I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,

[1:13] even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing.

[1:14] And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus.

[1:15] This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them,

[1:16] but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life.

[1:17] To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God—to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

[1:18] Timothy, my child, I entrust to you this command, which is in accordance with the words of prophecy spoken in the past about you. Use those words as weapons in order to fight well,

[1:19] and keep your faith and a clear conscience. Some people have not listened to their conscience and have made a ruin of their faith.

[1:20] Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have punished by handing them over to the power of Satan; this will teach them to stop their blasphemy.

[2:1] First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people;

[2:2] for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.

[2:3] This is good and it pleases God our Savior,

[2:4] who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.

[2:5] For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus,

[2:6] who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved,

[2:7] and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth!

[2:8] In every church service I want the men to pray, men who are dedicated to God and can lift up their hands in prayer without anger or argument.

[2:9] I also want the women to be modest and sensible about their clothes and to dress properly; not with fancy hair styles or with gold ornaments or pearls or expensive dresses,

[2:10] but with good deeds, as is proper for women who claim to be religious.

[2:11] Women should learn in silence and all humility.

[2:12] I do not allow them to teach or to have authority over men; they must keep quiet.

[2:13] For Adam was created first, and then Eve.

[2:14] And it was not Adam who was deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and broke God's law.

[2:15] But a woman will be saved through having children, if she perseveres in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.

[3:1] This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work.

[3:2] A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach;

[3:3] he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money;

[3:4] he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect.

[3:5] For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

[3:6] He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.

[3:7] He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.

[3:8] Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money;

[3:9] they should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience.

[3:10] They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve.

[3:11] Their wives also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything.

[3:12] A church helper must have only one wife, and be able to manage his children and family well.

[3:13] Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.

[3:14] As I write this letter to you, I hope to come and see you soon.

[3:15] But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

[3:16] No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.

[4:1] The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in later times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings of demons.

[4:2] Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron.

[4:3] Such people teach that it is wrong to marry and to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten, after a prayer of thanks, by those who are believers and have come to know the truth.

[4:4] Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks,

[4:5] because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God.

[4:6] If you give these instructions to the believers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, as you feed yourself spiritually on the words of faith and of the true teaching which you have followed.

[4:7] But keep away from those godless legends, which are not worth telling. Keep yourself in training for a godly life.

[4:8] Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future.

[4:9] This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed.

[4:10] We struggle and work hard, because we have placed our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all and especially of those who believe.

[4:11] Give them these instructions and these teachings.

[4:12] Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity.

[4:13] Until I come, give your time and effort to the public reading of the Scriptures and to preaching and teaching.

[4:14] Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you, which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the elders laid their hands on you.

[4:15] Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all.

[4:16] Watch yourself and watch your teaching. Keep on doing these things, because if you do, you will save both yourself and those who hear you.