The Message Bible MSG
New American Standard Bible NAS
1 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
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First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.
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for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.
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This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned:
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who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us - Jesus,
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For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out.
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who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
7 This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.
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For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying ) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray - not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God.
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Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
9 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions
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Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10 but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it.
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but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11 I don't let women take over and tell the men what to do.
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A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12 They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else.
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But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13 Adam was made first, then Eve;
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For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
14 woman was deceived first - our pioneer in sin! - with Adam right on her heels.
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And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15 On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.
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But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.