- Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and our hope, unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
- I implored you to remain still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions, rather than godly edifying, which is in faith — so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned — from which some, having swerved, have turned aside unto vain conversation, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm.
- But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and worldly, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjured people, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
- And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, for he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Nevertheless, for this cause I obtained mercy: that in me first, Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the king — eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God — be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- This charge I commit unto you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you, that you by them might war a good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience — which some, having put away concerning faith, have made shipwreck, of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
- I exhort therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who is desirous to have all men saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth which is in Christ Jesus, who is the only begotten Son of God and ordained to be a mediator between God and man, who is one God and has power over all men, who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I am ordained a preacher and an apostle — I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not — a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth.
- I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting — in like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with modesty and sobriety, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly apparel, but which becomes women professing godliness with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection, for I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, they shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety.
- This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy money, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, one that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity — for, if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? — not a recent convert, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise, the deacons must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy money, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then, let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well, for they that have used the office of a deacon well acquire to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- These things write I unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly, but if I delay long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the House of God, which is the church of the living God. The pillar and ground of the truth is — and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness — God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- Now the spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared as with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them who believe and know the truth. For every creation of God is good and nothing to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
- If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine unto which you have attained. But refuse worldly and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness, for bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For that is why we both labor and suffer reproach — because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe. These things command and teach.
- Let no man despise your youth, but be an example of the believers — in word, in conduct, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may appear to all. Take heed unto yourself and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this, you shall both save yourself and them that hear you.
- Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows that are widows indeed; but if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety at home and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Let not a widow be taken into the number under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, well-reported of for good works, if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ clothes, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse, for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry, having damnation because they have cast off their first faith. And at the same time, they learn to be idle, wandering 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 women marry, bear children, guide the house. Give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully, for some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believes has widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be burdened, that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
- Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine; for the scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain, and, The laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure. Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment, and some men, they follow after. Likewise also, the good works of some are manifest beforehand, and they that are otherwise cannot be hidden. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities.
- Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine are not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. From such, withdraw yourself. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be with them content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life, unto which you are also called and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give you charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that you keep this commandment without spot, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords; to whom be honor and power everlasting; who only has immortality, dwelling in the light; whom no man has seen nor can see, unto whom no man can approach — only he who has the light and the hope of immortality dwelling in him.
- Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
- O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding worldly and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY
The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.