Common - I Timothy

Chapter 1

1:1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1:2  to Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1:3  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

1:4  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than the divine training—which is by faith.

1:5  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1:6  For some men have wandered away from these things and turned aside to fruitless discussion,

1:7  wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

1:8  But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

1:9  realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers

1:10  and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1:11  according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

1:12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

1:13  Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

1:14  and the grace of our Lord was overflowing for me, with the faith and love that are found in Christ Jesus.

1:15  It is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.

1:16  But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.

1:17  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1:18  I give you this command, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies once made about you, that by them you may fight the good fight,

1:19  holding faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and made shipwreck of their faith.

1:20  Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.

Chapter 2

2:1  First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men,

2:2  for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

2:3  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

2:4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

2:6  who gave himself as a ransom for all—the testimony given at the proper time.

2:7  For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

2:8  Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or quarreling.

2:9  I also want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and sensibly, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly garments,

2:10  but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess godliness.

2:11  Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness.

2:12  I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.

2:13  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

2:14  And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

2:15  But women will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-restraint.

Chapter 3

3:1  It is a trustworthy saying: if any one aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

3:2  Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3:3  not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

3:4  He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

3:5  (If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?).

3:6  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

3:7  He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

3:8  Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, and not fond of sordid gain;

3:9  they must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

3:10  They must also first be tested; and then if they are beyond reproach, let them serve as deacons.

3:11  The women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

3:12  Deacons must be the husband of one wife, and must manage their children and their households well.

3:13  For those who have served well as deacons gain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

3:14  Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that,

3:15  if I am delayed, you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

3:16  By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: he was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Chapter 4

4:1  Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

4:2  through the pretensions of liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron,

4:3  who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

4:4  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving;

4:5  for it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

4:6  If you point out these things to the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

4:7  Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself in godliness.

4:8  For bodily training is of some value, but godliness is of value in all things, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

4:9  It is a trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance.

4:10  For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

4:11  Command and teach these things.

4:12  Let no one look down on your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

4:13  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

4:14  Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you through prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

4:15  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that all may see your progress.

4:16  Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in them, for if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Chapter 5

5:1  Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

5:2  older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, in all purity.

5:3  Honor widows who are real widows.

5:4  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice their religion in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

5:5  Now she who is a real widow, and who has been left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

5:6  But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

5:7  Command these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.

5:8  If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

5:9  A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband,

5:10  and she must be well known for her good deeds, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved those in distress, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.

5:11  But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to marry,

5:12  thus bringing condemnation, because they have set aside their first pledge.

5:13  Besides, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

5:14  So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their homes, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach.

5:15  For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

5:16  If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are real widows.

5:17  The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

5:18  For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

5:19  Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.

5:20  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.

5:21  I charge you, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, doing nothing out of favoritism.

5:22  Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

5:23  No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

5:24  The sins of some men are obvious, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins appear later.

5:25  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

Chapter 6

6:1  Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be spoken against.

6:2  Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but they must serve them all the better, because those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

6:3  If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness,

6:4  he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produce envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions,

6:5  and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a means of gain.

6:6  But godliness with contentment is itself great gain.

6:7  For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it.

6:8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

6:10  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

6:11  But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

6:12  Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

6:13  I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

6:14  to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

6:15  which he will bring about at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

6:16  who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

6:17  Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with everything to enjoy.

6:18  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share,

6:19  storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that life which is life indeed.

6:20  O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

6:21  which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.