I am grateful to him who gave me power, to Christ Jesus our Lord, because he thought me trustworthy when he established me in my ministry, though before I had been a blasphemer and persecutor and a violent man. But
was given mercy, because I had been acting ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overabounded in love and faith, which is in Christ Jesus. This word is to be believed and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am the foremost, but for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, foremost of all, Christ Jesus might display his complete patience, for an example of those to come who will believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of the ages, imperishable, invisible, single God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
I entrust this charge to you, Timothy my child, in accordance with those prophecies which pointed to you before, so that in their spirit you may serve in the good campaign, keeping faith and good conscience. This certain people have rejected and come to grief in the matter of faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I consign to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
So I ask you first of all to make your prayers, entreaties, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all people, for kings and all who are of high degree, so that we may live a quiet and peaceful life in all piety and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior, who wishes all people to be saved, and to come to the recognition of the truth. For there is one God, and also one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all, a testimonial to his own times. To which fact I was appointed herald and apostle —I am speaking the truth, I do not lie—the teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I wish, therefore, that men in every place should pray, uplifting reverent hands, without anger or disputations. So too I wish women to dress in decorous style with modesty and good taste, not in hairstyles and gold or pearls or expensive fabrics, but as becomes women who profess piety through good works. Let a woman be a learner, quietly and in all obedience; I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to have authority over her husband. She should hold her peace. For Adam was made first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived but the woman was deceived and went astray; but she will be saved through motherhood, if women are steadfast in faith and love and sanctity, with good behavior.
This word is to be believed. If anyone desires to be a bishop, it is an honorable wish. But then a bishop must be irreproachable, married to one wife, sober, discreet, orderly, hospitable, good at teaching, not given to wine, no brawler, but forbearing, peaceable, not avaricious, a good head of his own household, keeping his children under control in full respectability. If a man does not know how to be head of his own house, how shall he take charge of the church of God? And he should not be a new convert who might become conceited and fall into the devil's damnation. And he must be well spoken of by those who are outside our church, so as not to fall into disrepute and the entrapment of the devil.
So also deacons must be dignified, not two-tongued, not given to heavy dr^^ing, not shamefully grasping, keeping to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And they must first be examined, and then serve as deacons when they are found to be unimpeachable. So also their wives should be dignified, not gossips, sober, faithful in every way. Let deacons be married to one wife, exercising good authority over their children and their o^ households. For those who serve well as deacons provide themselves with a good standing and much confidence in faith in Christ Jesus.
I write you these things hoping to come to you speedily, but, in case I am slow in coming, so that you may know how you should conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of truth. And, admittedly, great is the mystery of religion. He appeared in the flesh; he was justified in the spirit; he was seen by angels; he was preached among the nations; he was believed in the world; he was taken up to heaven in glory.
The Spirit expressly says that in times to come some will forsake the faith, giving themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons through the hypocrisy of liars, branded in their own conscience, opposers of marriage, telling us to abstain from food which God created to be partaken of with t^^ksgiving by believers and those who recognize the truth. Because everything created by God is good, and not^^ is to be thro^ away which is received with thanksgiving, for it is hallowed by the word of God and prayer.
If you teach these things to the brothers you will be a fine deacon of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of faith and good teaching which you have followed; but reject the profane old wives' tales. And exercise yourself toward piety. Exercise of the body is good for only a little, but piety is good for everything, containing the promise of life now and to come. This that I say is to be believed and is worthy of full acceptance, for this is what we toil and struggle for; because our hopes are in the living God, who is the savior of all people, but most of all of the believers.
Teach and promote these beliefs. Let no one belittle you because of your youth, but make yourself a model of the faithful in speech, in behavior, in love, in faith, in chastity. Until I come, devote yourself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift of grace that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy by the laying of the council's hands upon you. Give your mind to these matters, occupy yourself with them, so that your progress may be visible to all. Attend to yourself and your teaching; keep on with it; for by doing so you will save yourself and those who hear you.
Do not reprove a man older than yourself, but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger ones as sisters in complete chastity. Revere widows who are really widows. And if a widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first of all to respect their own household and return to their forebears what they owe them, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. She who is really a widow and lives alone has put her hope in God and is constant in her prayers and entreaties night and day. She who indulges in pleasure is one of the living dead. Impress these ideas on people so that they may be above reproach. But if anyone does not take care of his own people, and particularly his own family, that one has denied his faith and is worse than one who never believed.
Let one who is registered as a widow be not under sixty years of age, widow of one husband, attested for good works: whether she cared for children, was hospitable to strangers, washed the feet of the saints, rescued the oppressed, or gave herself to whatever good work. But refuse the younger widows, since when their lusts take them away from the Christ, they want to marry, being open to the charge of breaking their original pledge. And at the same time they le^ how to be shiftless, going about from house to house; and not only shiftless but silly and meddlesome and improper in their talk. So I desire that the younger widows marry, have children, ^m their own houses, thus giving the Adversary no occasion for slander; for already some of them have turned back to follow Satan. If any woman believer has widows in her family, let her take care of them and not let the church be burdened, so that the church may take care of those who are really widowed.
The elders who have been good leaders should be accorded twice as much honor, especially those who work hard at speaking and teaching. For scripture says: You shall not muzzle the ox who treads the grain; and: The laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not accept a charge made against an elder unless it was before two or three witnesses; but convict those who do wrong openly before all, so that the others may be afraid. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to keep these commandments without prejudice, doing nothing in partiality. Do not lay hands hastily on anyone or have anything to do with the sins of others. Keep yourself chaste. Do not go on being a water dr^ker, but take a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.