1This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.G3972G652G2424G5547G2596G2003G2316G2257G4990G2532G2962G2424G5547G3588G2257G1680 2I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.G5095G1103G5043G1722G4102G5485G1656G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2424G5547G2257G2962 3When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.G2531G3870G4571G4357G1722G2181G4198G1519G3109G2443G3853G5100G2085G3361G2085 4Don't let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don't help people live a life of faith in God.G3366G4337G3454G2532G562G1076G3748G3930G2214G3123G2228G2316G3620G3588G1722G4102 5The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.G1161G5056G3852G2076G26G1537G2513G2588G2532G18G4893G2532G4102G505 6But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.G3739G5100G795G1624G1519G3150 7They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don't know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.G2309G1511G3547G3361G3539G3383G3739G3004G3383G4012G5101G1226 8We know that the law is good when used correctly.G1161G1492G3754G3551G2570G1437G5100G5530G846G3545 9For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.G1492G5124G3754G3551G2749G3756G2749G1342G1161G459G2532G506G765G2532G268G462G2532G952G3964G2532G3389G409 10The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teachingG4205G733G405G5583G1965G2532G1536G2087G480G5198G1319 11that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.G2596G1391G2098G3107G2316G3739G4100G1473G4100 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,G2532G2192G5485G5547G2424G2257G2962G3588G1743G3165G3754G2233G3165G4103G5087G1519G1248 13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.G3588G5607G4386G989G2532G1376G2532G5197G235G1653G3754G4160G50G1722G570 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.G1161G5485G2257G2962G5250G3326G4102G2532G26G3588G1722G5547G2424 15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"—and I am the worst of them all.G4103G3056G2532G514G3956G594G3754G5547G2424G2064G1519G2889G4982G268G3739G1473G1510G4413 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.G235G5124G1223G1653G2443G1722G1698G4413G2424G5547G1731G3956G3115G4314G5296G3195G4100G1909G846G1519G2222G166 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.G1161G935G165G862G517G3441G4680G2316G5092G2532G1391G1519G165G165G281 18Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord's battles.G5026G3852G3908G4671G5043G5095G2596G4394G4254G1909G4571G2443G4754G1722G846G4754G2570G4752 19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.G2192G4102G2532G18G4893G3739G5100G683G4012G4102G3489 20Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.G3739G2076G5211G2532G223G3739G3860G4567G2443G3811G3361G987
2I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.G3870G3767G4412G3956G1162G4335G1783G2169G4160G5228G3956G444 2Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.G5228G935G2532G3956G5607G1722G5247G2443G1236G2263G2532G2272G979G1722G3956G2150G2532G4587 3This is good and pleases God our Savior,G1063G5124G2570G2532G587G1799G2316G2257G4990 4who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.G3739G2309G3956G444G4982G2532G2064G1519G1922G225 5For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.G1063G1520G2316G2532G1520G3316G2316G2532G444G444G5547G2424 6He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.G3588G1325G1438G487G5228G3956G3142G2398G2540 7And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I'm not exaggerating—just telling the truth.G1519G3739G1473G5087G2783G2532G652G3004G225G1722G5547G5574G3756G1320G1484G1722G4102G2532G225 8In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.G1014G3767G435G4336G1722G3956G5117G1869G3741G5495G5565G3709G2532G1261 9And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.G5615G2532G1135G2885G1438G1722G2887G2689G3326G127G2532G4997G3361G1722G4117G2228G5557G2228G3135G2228G4185G2441 10For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.G235G3739G4241G1135G1861G2317G1223G18G2041 11Women should learn quietly and submissively.G3129G1135G3129G1722G2271G1722G3956G5292 12I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.G1161G2010G3756G1135G1321G3761G831G435G235G1511G1722G2271 13For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve.G1063G76G4111G4413G4111G1534G2096 14And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.G2532G76G538G3756G538G1161G1135G538G1096G1722G3847 15But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.G1161G4982G1223G5042G1437G3306G1722G4102G2532G26G2532G38G3326G4997
3This is a trustworthy saying: "If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position."G4103G3056G1536G3713G1984G1937G2570G20412So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.G1985G3767G1163G1511G423G435G3391G1135G3524G4998G2887G5382G13173He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.G3361G3943G3361G4131G3361G146G235G1933G269G8664He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.G4291G2573G2398G3624G2192G5043G1722G5292G3326G3956G45875For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?G1161G1536G1492G3756G1492G4291G2398G3624G4459G1959G1577G23166An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.G3361G3504G3363G5187G1706G1519G2917G12287Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil's trap.G1161G2532G846G1163G2192G2570G3141G575G1855G3363G1706G1519G3680G2532G3803G12288In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.G5615G1249G4586G3361G1351G3361G4337G4183G3631G3361G1469They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.G2192G3466G4102G1722G2513G489310Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.G1161G1381G3778G2532G4412G1381G1534G1247G5607G41011In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.G5615G1135G4586G3361G1228G3524G4103G1722G395612A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.G2077G1249G2077G435G3391G1135G4291G5043G2532G2398G3624G257313Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.G1063G1247G2573G4046G1438G2570G898G2532G4183G3954G1722G4102G3588G1722G5547G242414I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon,G5023G1125G4671G1679G2064G4314G4571G503215so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.G1161G1437G1019G2443G1492G4459G1163G390G1722G3624G2316G3748G2076G1577G2198G2316G4769G2532G1477G22516Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.G2532G3672G3173G2076G3466G2150G2316G5319G1722G4561G1344G1722G4151G3700G32G2784G1722G1484G4100G1722G2889G353G1722G1391
4Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.G1161G4151G3004G4490G3754G1722G5306G2540G5100G868G4102G4337G4108G4151G2532G1319G1140 2These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.G5573G1722G5272G2743G2398G4893G2743 3They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.G2967G1060G567G1033G3739G2316G2936G1519G3336G3326G2169G4103G2532G1921G225 4Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.G3754G3956G2938G2316G2570G2532G3762G579G2983G3326G2169 5For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.G1063G37G1223G3056G2316G2532G1783 6If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.G5294G80G5294G5023G2071G2570G1249G2424G5547G1789G3056G4102G2532G2570G1319G3739G3877 7Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.G1161G3868G952G2532G1126G3454G1161G1128G4572G4314G2150 8"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."G1063G4984G1129G2076G5624G4314G3641G1161G2150G2076G5624G4314G3956G2192G1860G2222G3568G2532G3195 9This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it.G4103G3056G2532G514G3956G594 10This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.G1063G1519G5124G2872G2532G2872G2532G3679G3754G1679G1909G2198G2316G3739G2076G4990G3956G444G3122G4103 11Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.G5023G3853G2532G1321 12Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.G2706G3367G2706G4675G3503G235G1096G5179G4103G1722G3056G1722G391G1722G26G1722G4151G1722G4102G1722G47 13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.G2193G2064G4337G320G3874G1319 14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.G272G3361G5486G1722G4671G3739G1325G4671G1223G4394G3326G1936G5495G4244 15Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.G3191G5023G2468G1722G5125G2443G4675G4297G5600G5318G1722G3956 16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.G1907G4572G2532G1319G1961G846G1063G4160G5124G4982G2532G4982G4572G2532G191G4675
5Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.G1969G3361G4245G235G3870G5613G3962G3501G5613G802Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.G4245G5613G3384G3501G5613G79G1722G3956G473Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.G5091G5503G5503G36894But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.G1161G1536G5503G2192G5043G2228G1549G3129G4412G2151G2398G3624G2532G287G591G4269G1063G5124G2076G2570G2532G587G1799G23165Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help.G1161G5503G3689G2532G3443G1679G1909G2316G2532G4357G1162G2532G4335G3571G2532G22506But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.G1161G4684G2348G21987Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.G2532G5023G3853G2443G5600G4238But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.G1161G1536G4306G3756G2398G2532G3122G3609G720G4102G2532G2076G5501G5719A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband.G2639G3361G5503G2639G1640G1835G2094G1096G1135G1520G43510She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?G3140G1722G2570G2041G1487G5044G1487G3580G1487G3538G40G4228G1487G1884G2346G1487G1872G3956G18G204111The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry.G1161G3501G5503G3868G1063G3752G2691G5547G2309G106012Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.G2192G2917G3754G114G4413G410213And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people's business and talking about things they shouldn't.G1161G2532G260G3129G692G4022G3614G1161G3756G3440G692G235G5397G2532G2532G4021G2980G3588G1163G336114So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.G1014G3767G3501G1060G5041G3616G1325G3367G874G480G5484G305915For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.G1063G5100G1624G2235G1624G3694G456716If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.G1536G4103G2228G4103G2192G5503G1884G846G2532G916G3361G1577G916G2443G1884G5503G368917Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.G515G4245G4291G2573G515G1362G5092G3122G2872G1722G3056G2532G131918For the Scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"G1063G1124G3004G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G2532G2040G514G846G340819Do not listen to an accusation against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.G2596G4245G3858G3361G2724G1508G1622G1909G1417G2228G5140G314420Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.G264G1651G1799G3956G2443G3062G2532G2192G540121I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.G1263G1799G2316G2532G2962G2424G5547G2532G1588G32G2443G5442G5023G5565G4299G4160G3367G2596G434622Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.G2007G5495G5030G2007G3367G3366G2841G245G266G5083G4572G5323Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.G5202G3371G5202G235G5530G3641G3631G1223G4675G4751G2532G4675G4437G76924Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.G5100G444G266G1526G4271G4254G1519G2920G1161G2532G5100G187225In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.G5615G2532G2570G2041G2076G4271G2532G2192G247G3756G1410G2928
Dublin, OH
, which don't help people live a life of faith in God.G3366
