Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our Hope,

As I begged you when I was setting out for Macedonia, stay where you are at Ephesus, and instruct certain individuals there not to be teaching heterodoxy,

nor to be paying attention to myths and interminable genealogies, which tend to promote discussions rather than a stewardship entrusted by God, a stewardship which is in faith.

Although they desire to be teachers of the law, they understand neither the words they use nor the subjects they talk about.

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

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

First of all then, I am urging that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered regularly for all men;

whose will it is that all men should be saved, and come into full knowledge of the truth.

who gave himself as a ransom in behalf of all, to be attested in due time.

It was for this testimony that I myself was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Notwithstanding she will be saved by the Child-bearing; (so will they all), if they live in faith and love and holiness, with self-restraint.

The minister should be a man of blameless character; he should be husband of but one wife; he should live a sober, self-restrained, orderly life; he should be hospitable, skilled in teaching;

he should be a man who rules his own household well, and keeps his children ever under control and thoroughly well behaved.

He must not be a recent convert, lest he be blinded with pride, and incur the doom of the devil.

Deacons, likewise, must be serious, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of gain,

They should first be tested, and after that, if they are found irreproachable, let them serve as deacons.

Deaconesses likewise must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let deacons be the husband of but one wife, men who rule their children and their household properly.

I am writing this to you in case I should be detained, to let you see how you ought to behave in the household of God??he Church of the everliving God, the pillar and mainstay of the truth.

Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in latter days there will be some who will fall away from the faith, by listening to spirits of error, and to teachings of demons

who discourage marriage, and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thankfulness, by those who believe, and have a clear knowledge of the truth.

For everything that God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if only it is received with thankfulness.

For it is sanctified by the Word of God and by prayer.

As you lay all these things before the brothers, you will be a noble minister of Christ Jesus, nourishing yourself in the precepts of the faith and that noble teaching which you have followed.

Be applying yourself until I come to public reading, preaching, and teaching.

Never neglect the gift within you, which was given in fulfilment of prophecy at the time of the laying on of hands by the elders.

Let these things be your care, give yourself wholly to them, so that your progress may be manifest to all.

Give heed to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Keep admonishing them regarding these things, so that they may be irreproachable.

A widow, to be placed upon the list, must be not less than sixty years old, and one who has been the wife of but one husband.

She must be well reputed for good works, as one who has brought up a family, received strangers with hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, relieved the distressed, and diligently followed every good work.

Moreover, they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and are not only idlers, but gossips also, and busybodies, repeating things they ought not.

Any believing woman, who has widowed relatives, ought to relieve them and not let the church be burdened with them; so that the church may relieve the really destitute widows.

Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.

So also noble deeds are conspicuous, and even if otherwise, they cannot be kept hidden.

Let those who are under the yoke as slaves esteem their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teachings be not blasphemed.

So if we have food and shelter, let us be content with that.

Those who desire to be rich fall into the snares of temptation and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eager desire to be rich some have been led astray form the faith, and have pierced themselves with many sorrows.

For in his own good time this will be brought about by that blessed and only potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone possesses immortality, who dwells in light that none can approach, whom no man has ever seen or can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

Charge the rich of this world not to be supercilious, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in God, who provides all things richly for our use.

Charge them to practise benevolence, to be rich in good works, to be open-handed and generous,

which some professing have erred from the faith. Grace be with you.