The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 49

(6)Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not after the tradition[3:6] which they received from us. (7)For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; that we were not disorderly among you, (8)nor did we eat bread of any one for naught, but with labor and toil, working night and day that we might not be burdensome to any of you; (9)not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example to you, that ye should follow us. (10)For also when we were with you, this we commanded you: If any will not work, neither let him eat. (11)For we hear of some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies. (12)Now such we command, and exhort, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness working, they eat their own bread.

(13)But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (14)And if any one obeys not our word by this letter, mark that man, and keep not company with him, that he may be shamed. (15)And count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

(16)Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, in every way.

The Lord be with you all.

(17)The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a token in every letter; so I write.

(18)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY.

I.

PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus, according to the commandment of G.o.d our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope, (2)to Timothy, a true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from G.o.d the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

(3)As I besought thee to remain still in Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain ones not to teach other doctrine, (4)nor to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which further disputes rather than G.o.d's dispensation, which is in faith, [so do.]

(5)Now the end of the commandment is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned; (6)from which some swerving turned aside to idle prattling; (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 unruly, for the unG.o.dly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers[1:9]; for man-slayers, (10)for fornicators, for those who defile themselves with mankind, for enslavers of men, for liars, for false swearers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teachings; (11)according to the glorious gospel of the blissful G.o.d, with which I was entrusted.

(12)And I thank him who gave me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, that he accounted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, (13)who was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and overbearing. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief; (14)and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly, with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

(15)Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (16)But for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first[1:16a] Christ Jesus might show forth all his long-suffering[1:16b], for a pattern to those who should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

(17)Now to the King eternal, the imperishable, invisible, only G.o.d, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

(18)This charge I commit to thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before concerning thee, that thou mayest wage in them the good warfare; (19)having faith, and a good conscience, which some thrusting away made s.h.i.+pwreck concerning the faith. (20)Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered over to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

II.

I EXHORT then, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; (2)for kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all G.o.dliness and decorum. (3)For this is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior G.o.d; (4)who desires that all should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

(5)For there is one G.o.d, one mediator also between G.o.d and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6)who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time; (7)whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle (I speak truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

(8)I desire, therefore, that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing; (9)in like manner also that women, in becoming apparel, adorn themselves with modesty and sobriety; not in braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly raiment; (10)but, which becomes women professing G.o.dliness, by means of good works.

(11)Let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. (12)But I permit not the woman to teach, nor to have 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, has fallen into transgression. (15)But she shall be saved through child-bearing, if they continue in faith, and love, and holiness, with sobriety.

III.

FAITHFUL is the saying, if any one desires the office of overseer[3:1], he desires a good work. (2)The overseer then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, discreet, orderly, hospitable, apt in teaching; (3)not given to wine, not a striker, but forbearing, averse to strife, not a lover of money; (4)presiding well over his own house, having his children in subjection with all decorum; (5)(but if one knows not how to preside over his own house, how shall he take care of the church of G.o.d?) (6)not a novice[3:6], lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. (7)But he must also have a good testimony from those without, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil.

(8)Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain; (9)holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (10)And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, being without reproach. (11)[Their] wives in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

(12)Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding well over their children and their own houses. (13)For they that have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good degree[3:13], and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

(14)These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly; (15)but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in the house of G.o.d, which is the church of the living G.o.d, the pillar and ground of the truth. (16)And confessedly, great is the mystery of G.o.dliness; G.o.d was manifested[3:16] in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the Gentiles, was believed on in the world, was received up in glory.

IV.

NOW the Spirit says expressly, that in after-times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and teachings of demons; (2)of those who speak lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3)forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from food, which G.o.d created to be received with thanksgiving, for those[4:3] who believe and know the truth. (4)For every creature of G.o.d is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; (5)for it is sanctified by the word of G.o.d and prayer.

(6)If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nurtured in the words of the faith and of the good teaching, which thou hast strictly followed. (7)But the profane and silly fables[4:7] avoid, and exercise thyself unto G.o.dliness. (8)For bodily exercise is profitable for little; but G.o.dliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (9)Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptance. (10)For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have hoped in the living G.o.d, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

(11)These things command and teach. (12)Let no one despise thy youth; but become an example of the believers, in word, in deportment, in love, in faith, in purity. (13)Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. (14)Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders.h.i.+p. (15)Meditate on these things[4:15]; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest to all. (16)Give heed to thyself, and to the teaching; continue in them; for in doing this thou wilt save both thyself, and those who hear thee.

V.

REBUKE not an elder, but entreat him as a father; younger men as brethren; (2)elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. (3)Honor as widows those who are widows indeed. (4)But if any widow has children or grand-children, let these learn first to show piety to their own household, and to requite their parents, for this is acceptable before G.o.d.

(5)Now she that is a widow indeed, and left alone, has set her hope on G.o.d, and continues in supplications and prayers, night and day. (6)But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (7)And these things command, that they may be blameless. (8)But if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

(9)Let not one be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, having been the wife of one husband; (10)well reported of for good works; if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of the saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she diligently followed every good work.

(11)But younger widows refuse; for when they have become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry; (12)having condemnation, because they broke their first faith. (13)And at the same time they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not.

(14)I desire therefore that younger widows marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

(15)For already, some turned aside after Satan.

(16)If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.

(17)Let elders who preside well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and teaching. (18)For the Scripture says: Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain; and, The laborer is worthy of his hire.

(19)Against an elder receive not an accusation, except before two or three witnesses[5:19].

(20)Those who sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may fear.

(21)I charge thee before G.o.d, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudging, doing nothing with partiality.

(22)Lay hands hastily on no one, neither share in other men's sins.

Keep thyself pure.

(23)No longer drink water only, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and for thy frequent infirmities.

(24)The sins of some men are openly manifest, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. (25)In like manner also the good works are openly manifest; and those that are otherwise can not be hidden.