Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the
commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our
hope;
Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace,
mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our
Lord.
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus,
when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest 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 jangling;
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 profane, for murderers of fathers
and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
For whoremongers, for them that defile
themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured
persons, and if there be 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 hath
enabled me, for that 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 exceeding
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful 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 first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life
everlasting.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by
them mightest 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
honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be
testified in due time.
Whereunto 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 verity.
I will therefore that men pray every where,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
In like manner also, that women adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not
with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing
godliness) with good works.
Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection.
But 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 she 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 desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband
of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to
hospitality, apt to teach;
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth 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 novice, lest being lifted up with pride
he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them
which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the
devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued, 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 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 purchase to themselves a good degree, 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 thou oughtest to behave thyself 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: 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 speaketh 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 with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God is good, and
nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and
prayer.
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of
these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto
thou hast attained.
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and
exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth 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
acceptation.
For therefore we both labour and suffer
reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of
all men, specially of those that believe.
These things command and teach.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which
was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself
wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save
thyself, and them that hear thee.
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a
father; and the younger men as brethren;
The elder women as mothers; the younger as
sisters, with all purity.
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
But if any widow have children or nephews,
let them learn first to shew 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,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night
and day.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while
she liveth.
And these things give in charge, that they
may be blameless.
But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and
is worse than an infidel.
Let not a widow be taken into the number
under threescore 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' feet, 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 withal 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 will therefore that the younger women
marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the
adversary to speak reproachfully.
For some are already turned aside after
Satan.
If any man or woman that believeth have
widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged;
that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
Let the elders that rule well be counted
worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not
muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer 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 thee before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the elect angels, that thou 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 thyself pure.
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine
for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
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
hid.
Let as many servants as are under the yoke
count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God
and his doctrine be 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 cometh 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 thyself.
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
therewith 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 thou, 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, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a
good profession before many witnesses.
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius
Pilate witnessed a good confession;
That thou keep this commandment without
spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of
lords;
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the
light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor
can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Charge them that are rich in this world,
that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in
the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good
works, 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
eternal life.
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to
thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of
science falsely so called:
Which some professing have erred concerning
the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.