Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the order of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope;

Desiring to be teachers of the law, though they have no knowledge of what they say or of the statements which they make so certainly.

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

I give praise to him who gave me power, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he took me to be true, making me his servant,

Now to the King eternal, ever-living, unseen, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. So be it.

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,

Keeping faith, and being conscious of well-doing; for some, by not doing these things, have gone wrong in relation to the faith:

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

And that women may be dressed in simple clothing, with a quiet and serious air; not with twisted hair and gold or jewels or robes of great price;

Let a woman quietly take the place of a learner and be under authority.

In my opinion it is right for a woman not to be a teacher, or to have rule over a man, but to be quiet.

And Adam was not taken by deceit, but the woman, being tricked, became a wrongdoer.

But if they go on in faith and love and holy self-control, she will be kept safe at the time of childbirth.

The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher;

And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One.

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;

And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them.

Women are to be serious in behaviour, saying no evil of others, controlling themselves, true in all things.

Let Deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their houses well.

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.

But the Spirit says clearly that in later times some will be turned away from the faith, giving their minds to spirits of deceit, and the teachings of evil spirits,

Who keep men from being married and from taking food which God made to be taken with praise by those who have faith and true knowledge.

For it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer.

If you keep these things before the minds of the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, trained in the words of the faith and of the right teaching which has been your guide:

Let these be your orders and your teaching.

Let no one make little of you because you are young, but be an example to the church in word, in behaviour, in love, in faith, in holy living.

Make use of that grace in you, which was given to you by the word of the prophets, when the rulers of the church put their hands on you.

Do not say sharp words to one who has authority in the church, but let your talk be as to a father, and to the younger men as to brothers:

Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.

Let no woman be numbered among the widows who is under sixty years old, and only if she has been the wife of one man,

But to the younger widows say No: for when their love is turned away from Christ, they have a desire to be married;

So it is my desire that the younger widows may be married and have children, controlling their families, and giving the Evil One no chance to say anything against them,

Let rulers whose rule is good be honoured twice over, specially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Say sharp words to sinners when all are present, so that the rest may be in fear.

The sins of some men are clearly seen, going before them to be judged; but with others, their sins go after them.

In the same way, there are good works which are clearly seen; and those which are not so, may not be kept secret.

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.

Bitter talk of men who, being evil in mind and dead to what is true, take the faith to be a way of making profit.

But if we have food and a roof over us, let that be enough.

But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.

Be fighting the good fight of the faith; take for yourself the life eternal, for which you were marked out, and of which you gave witness in the eyes of all.

To keep the word untouched by evil, clear from all shame, till the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who only has life for ever, living in light to which no man may come near; whom no man has seen or is able to see: to whom be honour and power for ever. So be it.

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;

Making ready for themselves a safe place for the time to come, so that the true life may be theirs.

Through which some, who gave their minds to it, have been turned away from the faith. Grace be with you.