or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.

They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you may strongly engage in battle,

Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.

But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness, with good judgment.

This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,

And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.

Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the Spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed.

Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Command this also, so they won’t be blamed.

No widow should be placed on the official support list unless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,

But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry

At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

If any believing woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.

Don’t be too quick to appoint anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and His teaching will not be blasphemed.

Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.

Teach and encourage these things.

But if we have food and clothing,
we will be content with these.

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

the only One who has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light;
no one has seen or can see Him,
to Him be honor and eternal might.
Amen.

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.

Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share,

By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith.

Grace be with all of you.