Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the
commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;
unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace,
mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I
was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to
teach a different doctrine, neither to give heed
to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather
than a dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.
But the end of the charge is love out of a pure
heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
from which things some having swerved have turned
aside unto vain talking; desiring to be teachers
of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they
confidently affirm. But we know that the law is
good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this,
that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly,
for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with
men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any
other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;
according to the gospel of the glory of the
blessed God, which was committed to my trust. I
thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he
counted me faithful, appointing me to his service;
though I was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our
Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief: howbeit for this cause I
obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his
longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on
him unto eternal life. Now unto the King
eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen. This charge I commit
unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way
to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
holding faith and a good conscience; which some
having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I
delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
I exhort therefore, first of all, that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;
for kings and all that are in high place; that we
may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Saviour; who would have all men to be saved,
and come to the knowledge of the truth. For there
is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man,
Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all;
the testimony to be borne in its own times;
whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an
apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith
and truth. I desire therefore that the men pray
in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.
In like manner, that women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair,
and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which
becometh women professing godliness) through good works.
Let a woman learn in quietness with all
subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach,
nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve;
and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being
beguiled hath fallen into transgression: but she
shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and
love and sanctification with sobriety.
Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the
office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. The
bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife,
temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not
contentious, no lover of money; one that ruleth
well his own house, having his children in subjection with all
gravity; (but if a man knoweth not how to rule
his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into
the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must
have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. Deacons in like
manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine,
not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery
of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these
also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be
blameless. Women in like manner must be
grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling
their children and their own houses well.
For they that have served well as deacons gain
to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in
Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee,
hoping to come unto thee shortly; but if I tarry
long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the
house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground
of the truth. And without controversy great is
the mystery of godliness;
He who was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the spirit,
Seen of angels,
Preached among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
But the Spirit says expressly, that in later
times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of
men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by
them that believe and know the truth. For every
creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received
with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified through
the word of God and prayer. If thou put the
brethren in mind of these things, thou will be a good minister of Christ
Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which
thou hast followed until now: but refuse
profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little;
but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life
which now is, and of that which is to come.
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all
acceptation. For to this end we labor and
strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour
of all men, specially of them that believe.
These things command and teach.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in
faith, in purity. Till I come, give heed to
reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Neglect
not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the
laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Be
diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress
may be manifest unto all. Take heed to thyself,
and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou
will save both thyself and them that hear thee.
Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father;
the younger men as brethren: the elder women as
mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
Honor widows that are widows indeed.
But if any widow hath children or grandchildren,
let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to
requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers
night and day. But she that giveth herself to
pleasure is dead while she liveth. These things
also command, that they may be without reproach.
But if any provideth not for his own, and
specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
an unbeliever. Let none be enrolled as a widow
under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
well reported of for good works; if she hath
brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she
hath washed the saints' feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she
hath diligently followed every good work. But
younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ,
they desire to marry; having condemnation,
because they have rejected their first pledge.
And withal they learn also to be idle,
going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and
busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
I desire therefore that the younger
widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion
to the adversary for reviling: for already some
are turned aside after Satan. If any woman that
believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be
burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
For the scripture says, Thou will not muzzle
the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his
hire. Against an elder receive not an
accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.
Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that
the rest also may be in fear. I charge
thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels,
that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by
partiality. Lay hands hastily on no man, neither
be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a
little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Some men's sins are evident, going before unto
judgment; and some men also they follow after.
In like manner also there are good works that
are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.
Let as many as are servants under the yoke count
their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the
doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have
believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren;
but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the
benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.
If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and
consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting
about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, wranglings of men
corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a
way of gain. But godliness with contentment is
great gain: for we brought nothing into the
world, for neither can we carry anything out; but
having food and covering we shall be therewith content.
But they that are minded to be rich fall into a
temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown
men in destruction and perdition. For the love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have
been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with
many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these
things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness. Fight the good fight of the faith, lay
hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess
the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth
life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed the good confession; that thou keep
the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ: which in its own times he
shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and
Lord of lords; who only hath immortality,
dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to
whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
Charge them that are rich in this present world,
that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of
riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
that they do good, that they be rich in good
works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life
which is life indeed. O Timothy, guard
that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane
babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;
which some professing have erred concerning the
faith. Grace be with you.
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