CHAPTER 11 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of
God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy,
my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and
Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 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,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so
do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and
of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved
have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law;
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we
know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 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,
10 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;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which
was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath
enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained
mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our
Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 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.
16 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.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 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;
19 Holding
faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith
have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have
delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
CHAPTER 2
1 I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified
in due time.
7 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.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting.
9 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;
10 But (which becometh women professing
godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority
over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then
Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in
the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing,
if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
CHAPTER 3
1 This
is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good
work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant,
sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given
to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler,
not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children
in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his
own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice,
lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he
fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons
be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy
lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And
let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon,
being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers,
sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one
wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 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.
14 These things
write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 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.
16 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.
CHAPTER 4
1
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;
2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3
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.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused,
if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer.
6 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.
7 But refuse
profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8 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.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10
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.
11 These things command and teach.
12 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.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which
was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting
may appear to all.
16 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.
CHAPTER 5
1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger
men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with
all purity.
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 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.
5
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth
in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure
is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they
may be blameless.
8 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.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old,
having been the wife of one man.
10 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.
11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they
have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12 Having damnation,
because they have cast off their first faith.
13 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.
14 I will therefore
that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion
to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 For some are already turned
aside after Satan.
16 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.
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted
worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth
out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an
elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 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.
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of
other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use
a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
24 Some
men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they
follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand;
and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
CHAPTER 6
1 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.
2 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.
3 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;
4 He is proud, knowing
nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh
envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of
corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 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.
10 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.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 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.
13
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;
14
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 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.
17 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;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves
a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding
profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21
Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee.
Amen.