to Timothy, my true child in faith; God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord bless you and be merciful to you, and give you peace.

It was my desire, when I went on into Macedonia, that you might make a stop at Ephesus, to give orders to certain men not to put forward a different teaching,

Or to give attention to stories and long lists of generations, from which come questionings and doubts, in place of God's ordered way of life which is in faith;

knowing this, that the law [is] not given for a righteous [person] but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and totally worldly, for the one who kills his father and the one who kills his mother, for murderers,

for sexually immoral people, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, and for people who give false testimony. And [law is for] everything else that is against the sound teaching

Which may be seen in the good news of the glory of the great God, which was given into my care.

I am always thanking Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength for it, for thinking me trustworthy and putting me into the ministry,

Though I had said violent words against God, and done cruel acts, causing great trouble: but I was given mercy, because I did it without knowledge, not having faith;

and the blessing of our Lord has been given me in the greatest abundance, together with faith and love that union with Christ Jesus brings.

It is a true saying, in which all may put their faith, that Christ Jesus came into the world to give salvation to sinners, of whom I am the chief:

But for this reason I was given mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might make clear all his mercy, as an example to those who in the future would have faith in him to eternal life.

This order I give to you, Timothy my son, in harmony with the words of the prophets about you, so that by them you may be strong, fighting the good fight,

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

My desire is, first of all, that you will make requests and prayers and give praise for all men;

Who gave himself as an offering for all; witness of which was to be given at the right time;

to give which testimony I have been appointed a preacher and an apostle; (I speak the truth, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faithfulness and in truth.

It is my desire, then, that in every place men may give themselves to prayer, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or argument.

Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Not given to wine, not ready to wound, but considerate, averse to contention, not fond of money,

(If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?)

Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world;

Wives, in the same way, - dignified, not given to intrigue, sober, faithful in all things.

And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.

Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, because they continuously give their attention to deceiving spirits and the things that demons teach

who forbid people to marry and insist on abstinence from certain kinds of food that God created for men who believe and understand the truth to enjoy and give thanks for.

But have nothing to do with unclean and foolish stories. Give yourself training in religion:

Continue to give these orders and to teach these truths.

don't give occasion to any to despise your youth: but be a pattern to believers in your discourse, in your behaviour, by your charity, faith and chastity.

Until I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.

Stop neglecting the gift you received, which was given you through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you.

Have a care for these things; give yourself to them with all your heart, so that all may see how you go forward.

Give attention to yourself and your teaching. Go on in these things; for in doing so you will get salvation for yourself and for those who give hearing to you.

Give honour to widows who are truly widows.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to be devoted to their own house, and to give back recompense to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

while a widow who gives herself up to luxury is really dead though still alive.

Continue to give these directions so that the people may be without reproach.

And if witness is given of her good works; if she has had the care of children, if she has been kind to travellers, washing the feet of the saints, helping those who are in trouble, giving herself to good works.

But the younger widows reject: for when they give themselves to wantonness contrary to Christ, they will marry;

So I would have the younger women marry, have children, and keep house, so as not to give our opponents any occasion for slander.

As it is, some widows have already turned after Satan. ??16 Any believer, man or woman, who has widowed relatives, must give them relief; the church is not to be burdened with them; she has to relieve the widows who really need relief.

If any woman of the faith has relations who are widows, let her give them help, so that the care of them does not come on the church, and so it may give help to those who are truly widowed.

Do not take as true any statement made against one in authority, but only if two or three give witness to it.

I give you orders before God and Christ Jesus and the angels of God's selection, to keep these orders without giving thought to one side more than another.

[Give up being a total abstainer; take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent attacks of illness.]

Let all who are servants under the yoke give all honour to their masters, so that no evil may be said against the name of God and his teaching.

And let those whose masters are of the faith have respect for them because they are brothers, working for them the more readily, because those who take part in the good work are of the faith and are dear. Give orders and teaching about these things.

If any man gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion,

he is puffed up with conceit and knows nothing, but is doting about disputations and a strife of words. These give rise to envy, quarrels, railings, evil suspicions,

I give you orders before God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate gave witness to the faith,

Give orders to those who have money and goods in this life, not to be lifted up in their minds, or to put their hope in the uncertain chances of wealth, but in God who gives us in full measure all things for our use;

And to do good, having wealth in good works, being quick to give, taking part with one another;

O Timothy, take good care of that which is given to you, turning away from the wrong and foolish talk and arguments of that knowledge which is falsely so named;