Greeting
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
No Other Doctrine
3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Focus: Sorting Out Truth
4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
Glory to God for His Grace
12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
13although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,a be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Fight the Good Fight
18This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,
20of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Pray for All Men
1Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, Focus: Praying for Leaders
2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
7for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christa and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Men and Women in the Church
8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; Focus: Structuring the Church
9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
10but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Focus: The Legacy of Eve
14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. Focus: Ways to Worship
Qualifications of Overseers
1This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,a he desires a good work. Focus: Qualifications for Leadership
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,b but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
6not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Qualifications of Deacons
8Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
9holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
11Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
12Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Great Mystery
14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
Godc was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
The Great Apostasy
1Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, Focus: The Wisdom of Experience
2speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
3forbidding to marry, 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 refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
5for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
A Good Servant of Jesus Christ
6If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
7But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
8For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach,a because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
11These things command and teach. Life Studies: Barnabas
Take Heed to Your Ministry
12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,b in faith, in purity.
13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
15Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
16Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Treatment of Church Members
1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
Honor True Widows
3Honor widows who are really widows. Insight: Widows
4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good anda acceptable before God.
5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7And these things command, that they may be blameless.
8But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.
13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15For some have already turned aside after Satan.
16If any believing man orb woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. Focus: Effective Care for the Needy
Honor the Elders
17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,”c and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”d
19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
21I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
22Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
23No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
25Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.
Honor Masters
1Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
2And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
Error and Greed
3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, Focus: Giving to Get
4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5useless wranglingsa of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.b
6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. Focus: Christians and Money
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certainc we can carry nothing out.
8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The Good Confession
11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,
15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Instructions to the Rich
17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Guard the Faith
20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.