1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2 to Timothy, a genuine child in faith, grace, mercy and peace from God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I write in the vein of when I appealed to you to stay on in Ephesus, when I was on my way to Macedonia, in order that you might command some not to teach extraneous doctrines,

4 nor to heed fables or interminable genealogies, which give rise to disputes rather than a dispensation of God in faith.

5 And the goal of the commandment is love from a pure heart and a clear conscience and unfeigned faith,

6 from which things some have deviated and have turned away to idle talk,

7 wanting to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither what they say nor things pertaining to what they assert.

8 And we know that the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully,

9 knowing this, that the law has not been instituted for a righteous person, but for the lawless and unruly, for the undevout and for sinners, for the irreverent and profane, for those who commit parricide and matricide, for murderers,

10 for fornicators, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and anything else there might be contrary to sound doctrine,

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

12 And I am thankful to him who empowered me, to Christ Jesus our Lord, in that he considered me faithful and appointed me to a ministry,

13 me, who was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor and an impudent person, but I received mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief,

14 and the grace of our Lord superabounded with faith, and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

16 But I received mercy on account of this: that in me first Jesus Christ should show all longsuffering, as a model for those who will believe in him, resulting in age-abiding life.

17 Now to the king of the ages, indefectible, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory throughout the durations of the ages. Amen.

18 I commit this command to you, Timothy, my child, according to the prophecies which have led in your direction, that by means of them you should fight the good fight,

19 having faith and a clear conscience, which some have rejected, and have suffered shipwreck in respect of their faith,

20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

2

1 So I exhort you first of all to make pleas, prayers, intercessions, thanks, for all men,

2 for kings and all those in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and calm life in all godliness and solemnity,

3 for this is good and acceptable in the sight of our saviour, God,

4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to acknowledgment of the truth.

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

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony at its own particular time,

7 to which I have been appointed a herald and apostle – I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 So I wish for men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument,

9 and for women similarly to adorn themselves in discreet dress, with modesty and sobriety, not with braids or gold or pearls or extravagant clothes,

10 but, (which is fitting for women who profess godliness), with good works.

11 A woman should learn quietly and most submissively,

12 and I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to dominate her husband, but to be quiet.

13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve,

14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and came to be in transgression,

15 but she will be saved throughout childbearing, if they remain in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

3

1 The saying is faithful: “If a man aspires to the position of an overseer, he desires a good work.”

2 An overseer, then, must be unimpeachable, the husband of one wife, sober, temperate, well-behaved, hospitable, with aptitude for teaching,

3 not over-fond of wine, not violent, not shamefully greedy of gain, but equitable, peaceable, not a lover of money,

4 taking charge of his own household well, keeping his children in subjection most solemnly.

5 But if a person does not know how to take charge of his own household, how can he take care of the church of God?

6 Not a newcomer, in case his imagination runs away with him and he falls into the condemnation of the devil.

7 And he must also have a good reputation with those outside, so that he does not fall into disrepute or a snare of the devil.

8 Likewise, ministers must be solemn, not equivocal, not heavy drinkers of wine, not shamefully greedy of gain,

9 keeping the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 And let these be put to the test first, then let them minister, when they are found to be irreproachable.

11 Similarly their wives must be solemn, not slanderous, sober, faithful in everything.

12 Ministers must be the husbands of one wife, properly in charge of their children and their own households.

13 For those who minister well acquire good standing for themselves and much assurance in faith in Christ Jesus.

14 I write these things to you hoping to come to you very soon.

15 But if I take a long time, I have written in order that you may know how you should behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God. A pillar and base of the truth,

16 and confessedly great, is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.

4

1 Now the spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will apostatize from the faith and give heed to misleading spirits and teachings of demons,

2 with the hypocrisy of liars whose own consciences have been seared,

3 forbidding to marry, ordering to abstain from foodstuffs which God created to be partaken of with thanks by those who are faithful and have acknowledged the truth.

4 For every creature of God is good and is by no means to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and entreaty.

6 If you propose these things to the brothers you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of the faith and of good doctrine which you have followed closely.

7 But reject profane and old wives' tales and exercise yourself rather to godliness.

8 For physical exercise is beneficial in a minor matter, but godliness is beneficial in all respects, having the promise of present and future life.

9 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.

10 For we also toil for this and are reproached, because we have put hope in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially believers.

11 Command these things and teach them.

12 Let no-one despise your youth, but become a model for believers, in word, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

13 Until I come, pay attention to reading, to encouragement, to teaching.

14 Do not neglect the gracious gift in you, which was given to you through prophecy with laying on of hands of the council of elders.

15 Concern yourself with these things, be immersed in these things, so that your progress may be evident among all.

16 Attend to yourself and the teaching. Continue with them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

5

1 Do not rebuke an elder, but treat him as a father, and younger men as brothers,

2 elder women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in total purity.

3 Honour widows who really are widows.

4 But if any widow has children or descendants, let them first learn to treat their own house reverently, and return what is due to their forebears, for that is acceptable in the sight of God.

5 But she who really is a widow and has been forsaken has put her hope in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,

6 whereas she who lives lewdly is dead while alive.

7 Command these things too, so that they may be unimpeachable.

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Do not let a widow less than sixty years old be enlisted, but one who was a wife of one man,

10 reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped the afflicted, if she has engaged in every good work.

11 But decline younger widows, for when they turn restive against Christ, they will want to marry,

12 incurring judgment, because they set aside their initial faith,

13 while at the same time they idly learn, as they go round houses, and not only idly, but as gossip-mongers and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

14 So I want the younger women to marry, have children, be mistress of a house, not to give any opportunity to the adversary on account of abuse,

15 for some have already turned aside after Satan.

16 If any man or woman believer has widows, let him help them, and don't let the church be burdened, so that it can help the real widows.

17 Let the elders who have taken charge well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who toil in word and teaching,

18 for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

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

20 Censure sinners in the presence of everyone, in order that others also may have fear.

21 I attest before God and Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that you should keep these things without prejudice, not acting in any respect with partiality.

22 Don't be hasty laying hands on anyone, and do not share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.

23 Don't just drink water any longer, but use a little wine on account of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 The sins of some men are evident beforehand, preceding them to judgment, whereas others have sins following them.

25 Similarly too, the good works are evident beforehand, whereas the things that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

6

1 Let all who are slaves, under a yoke, consider their own masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the doctrine are not blasphemed.

2 And let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are brothers, but let them rather serve them, because those who partake of good work are believers and beloved. Teach and encourage these things.

3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not adhere to sound words – those of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the godly doctrine –

4 he has let his imagination run away with him and understands nothing, but is delirious concerning enquiries and controversies from which arise envy, strife, blasphemies, malevolent suppositions,

5 vain arguments of men corrupt in mind and devoid of the truth, who reckon godliness to be a means of gain. Do not associate with such.

6 But godliness with independence is an important means of gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and it is clear that we cannot take anything out either.

8 Provided we have sustenance and shelter, we shall be satisfied with these.

9 But those who wish to become rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires, which sink men into destruction and ruin.

10 For love of money is a root of all the evils, a root which some, by striving for it, have strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves all over with many pangs of pain.

11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Contend in the good contest of faith, take hold of age-abiding life, to which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13 I command you in the sight of God who makes everything alive, and Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14 to keep the commandment spotlessly, unimpeachably, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which in his own time the blessed and only potentate, the king of those that reign and Lord of those that rule will display,

16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no-one among men has seen or can see, to whom be honour and age-abiding might. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in the present age not to be haughty, nor to put hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in the living God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,

18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share,

19 treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they might take hold of age-abiding life.

20 Timothy, guard the deposit, avoiding profane vain talk and contradictions of science falsely so called,

21 which some profess and have deviated concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.