1 Timothy 1; 1 Timothy 2; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Timothy 4; 1 Timothy 5; 1 Timothy 6

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1 Timothy 1

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope.
2 To Timothy, a true child to me because you believe: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I asked you to stay longer in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia so you could command some people there to stop teaching false things.
4 Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true and on long lists of names in family histories. These things only bring arguments; they do not help God's work, which is done in faith.
5 The purpose of this command is for people to have love, a love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a true faith.
6 Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk.
7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about.
8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it lawfully.
9 We also know that the law is not made for good people but for those who are against the law and for those who refuse to follow it. It is for people who are against God and are sinful, who are not holy and have no religion, who kill their fathers and mothers, who murder,
10 who take part in sexual sins, who have sexual relations with people of the same sex, who sell slaves, who tell lies, who speak falsely, and who do anything against the true teaching of God.
11 That teaching is part of the Good News of the blessed God that he gave me to tell.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who gave me strength, because he trusted me and gave me this work of serving him.
13 In the past I spoke against Christ and persecuted him and did all kinds of things to hurt him. But God showed me mercy, because I did not know what I was doing. I did not believe.
14 But the grace of our Lord was fully given to me, and with that grace came the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
16 But I was given mercy so that in me, the worst of all sinners, Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. His patience with me made me an example for those who would believe in him and have life forever.
17 To the King that rules forever, who will never die, who cannot be seen, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 Timothy, my child, I am giving you a command that agrees with the prophecies that were given about you in the past. I tell you this so you can follow them and fight the good fight.
19 Continue to have faith and do what you know is right. Some people have rejected this, and their faith has been shipwrecked.
20 Hymenaeus and Alexander have done that, and I have given them to Satan so they will learn not to speak against God.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 2

1 First, I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him.
2 Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God.
3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all people to be saved and to know the truth.
5 There is one God and one way human beings can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who is himself human.
6 He gave himself as a payment to free all people. He is proof that came at the right time.
7 That is why I was chosen to tell the Good News and to be an apostle. (I am telling the truth; I am not lying.) I was chosen to teach those who are not Jews to believe and to know the truth.
8 So, I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up their hands in a holy manner, without anger and arguments.
9 Also, women should wear proper clothes that show respect and self-control, not using braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
10 Instead, they should do good deeds, which is right for women who say they worship God.
11 Let a woman learn by listening quietly and being ready to cooperate in everything.
12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to listen quietly,
13 because Adam was formed first and then Eve.
14 And Adam was not tricked, but the woman was tricked and became a sinner.
15 But she will be saved through having children if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 3

1 What I say is true: Anyone wanting to become an elder desires a good work.
2 An elder must not give people a reason to criticize him, and he must have only one wife. He must be self-controlled, wise, respected by others, ready to welcome guests, and able to teach.
3 He must not drink too much wine or like to fight, but rather be gentle and peaceable, not loving money.
4 He must be a good family leader, having children who cooperate with full respect.
5 (If someone does not know how to lead the family, how can that person take care of God's church?)
6 But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was.
7 An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil's trap.
8 In the same way, deacons must be respected by others, not saying things they do not mean. They must not drink too much wine or try to get rich by cheating others.
9 With a clear conscience they must follow the secret of the faith that God made known to us.
10 Test them first. Then let them serve as deacons if you find nothing wrong in them.
11 In the same way, womenn must be respected by others. They must not speak evil of others. They must be self-controlled and trustworthy in everything.
12 Deacons must have only one wife and be good leaders of their children and their own families.
13 Those who serve well as deacons are making an honorable place for themselves, and they will be very bold in their faith in Christ Jesus.
14 Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now.
15 Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.
16 Without doubt, the secret of our life of worship is great: He was shown to us in a human body, proved right in spirit, and seen by angels. He was preached to those who are not Jews, believed in by the world, and taken up in glory.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 4

1 Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times some people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teachings of demons.
2 Such teachings come from the false words of liars whose consciences are destroyed as if by a hot iron.
3 They forbid people to marry and tell them not to eat certain foods which God created to be eaten with thanks by people who believe and know the truth.
4 Everything God made is good, and nothing should be refused if it is accepted with thanks,
5 because it is made holy by what God has said and by prayer.
6 By telling these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be made strong by the words of the faith and the good teaching which you have been following.
7 But do not follow foolish stories that disagree with God's truth, but train yourself to serve God.
8 Training your body helps you in some ways, but serving God helps you in every way by bringing you blessings in this life and in the future life, too.
9 What I say is true, and you should fully accept it.
10 This is why we work and struggle: We hope in the living God who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 Command and teach these things.
12 Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life.
13 Until I come, continue to read the Scriptures to the people, strengthen them, and teach them.
14 Use the gift you have, which was given to you through prophecy when the group of elders laid their hands onn you.
15 Continue to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone.
16 Be careful in your life and in your teaching. If you continue to live and teach rightly, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 5

1 Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers,
2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
3 Take care of widows who are truly widows.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to do their duty to their own family and to repay their parents or grandparents. That pleases God.
5 The true widow, who is all alone, puts her hope in God and continues to pray night and day for God's help.
6 But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is alive.
7 Tell the believers to do these things so that no one can criticize them.
8 Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.
9 To be on the list of widows, a woman must be at least sixty years old. She must have been faithful to her husband.
10 She must be known for her good works -- works such as raising her children, welcoming strangers, washing the feet of God's people, helping those in trouble, and giving her life to do all kinds of good deeds.
11 But do not put younger widows on that list. After they give themselves to Christ, they are pulled away from him by their physical needs, and then they want to marry again.
12 They will be judged for not doing what they first promised to do.
13 Besides that, they learn to waste their time, going from house to house. And they not only waste their time but also begin to gossip and busy themselves with other people's lives, saying things they should not say.
14 So I want the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their homes. Then no enemy will have any reason to criticize them.
15 But some have already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should care for them herself. The church should not have to care for them. Then it will be able to take care of those who are truly widows.
17 The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching,
18 because the Scripture says: "When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating," and "A worker should be given his pay."
19 Do not listen to someone who accuses an elder, without two or three witnesses.
20 Tell those who continue sinning that they are wrong. Do this in front of the whole church so that the others will have a warning.
21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels, I command you to do these things without showing favor of any kind to anyone.
22 Think carefully before you lay your hands onn anyone, and don't share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine to help your stomach and your frequent sicknesses.
24 The sins of some people are easy to see even before they are judged, but the sins of others are seen only later.
25 So also good deeds are easy to see, but even those that are not easily seen cannot stay hidden.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Timothy 6

1 All who are slaves under a yoke should show full respect to their mas- ters so no one will speak against God's name and our teaching.
2 The slaves whose masters are believers should not show their masters any less respect because they are believers. They should serve their masters even better, because they are helping believers they love. You must teach and preach these things.
3 Anyone who has a different teaching does not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that shows the true way to serve God.
4 This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust,
5 and constant quarrels from those who have evil minds and have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich.
6 Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.
7 We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out.
8 But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.
9 Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people.
10 The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow.
11 But you, man of God, run away from all those things. Instead, live in the right way, serve God, have faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life when you confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, I give you a command. Christ Jesus made the good confession when he stood before Pontius Pilate.
14 Do what you were commanded to do without wrong or blame until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
15 God will make that happen at the right time. He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.
16 He is the only One who never dies. He lives in light so bright no one can go near it. No one has ever seen God, or can see him. May honor and power belong to God forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy.
18 Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.
19 By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.
20 Timothy, guard what God has trusted to you. Stay away from foolish, useless talk and from the arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge."
21 By saying they have that "knowledge," some have missed the true faith. Grace be with you.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.