Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who was put to death for us, so that, awake or sleeping, we may have a part in his life.

But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Do not put out the light of the Spirit;

but prove all things, hold fast the right;

But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body, - so as to be unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, - be preserved!

Brothers, it is our duty always to thank God about you, as is but right, considering the wonderful growth of your faith, and because, without exception, your love for one another is continually increasing.

They are proof positive of God's equity; you are suffering for the realm of God, and he means to make you worthy of it ??6 since God considers it but just to repay with trouble those who trouble you,

Now in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to meet Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,

That ye be not quickly tossed from your mind, nor be put in alarm - either by spirit, or by discourse, or by letter as by us, as that the day of the Lord, hath set in:

[But] for now, there is something holding him back [i.e., holding back the man of lawlessness from emerging, See verses 3-4], and you people know what it is. [It is restraining him] so that he will not be revealed until his own [due] time.

For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way.

And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of his mouth, and give to destruction by the revelation of his coming;

and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them].

And for this cause, God will give them up to the power of deceit and they will put their faith in what is false:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

But our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us, and given us eternal consolation and good hope by grace,

and that we may be delivered from bad and evil men, for faith is not the portion of all.

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

But we trust in the Lord as to you, that the things which we enjoin, ye both do and will do.

But the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of the Christ.

But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [that] you keep away from every brother who lives irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

but we command such and exhort them in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietude working, they must eat their own bread.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

But if any one obey not our word by the letter, mark that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed of himself;

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

But the Lord of peace himself give you peace continually in every way. The Lord be with you all.

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,

But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:

Some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions,

wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been put in trust.

And I give thanks to him who enabled me -- Christ Jesus our Lord -- that he did reckon me stedfast, having put me to the ministration,

Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

But the grace of our Lord surpassingly over-abounded with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

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 mercy was shewn me, that in me, the first, Jesus Christ might display the whole long-suffering, for a delineation of those about to believe on him to life eternal.

But to the King of the ages, the incorruptible, invisible, only God, be honor and glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

For there is but one God and but one Mediator between God and men--Christ Jesus, Himself man;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Let the woman learn in silence with all submission: but I permit not a woman to teach,

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

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, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.

(but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

But it is necessary that he should have also a good testimony from those without, that he may fall not into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Deacons likewise must be men worthy of respect [honorable, financially ethical, of good character], not double-tongued [speakers of half-truths], not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain,

but holding the secret truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

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

Women must likewise be worthy of respect, not malicious gossips, but self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things.

Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected, [but] to be received with thanksgiving;

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

This is a true saying, in which all may put their faith.

For to this [end] we labor and suffer reproach, because we have put our hope in [the] living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

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.

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grand children, let these learn first to shew piety at home,

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

Now she who is a widow indeed, and is left alone, has put her hope in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Let a widow be put upon the list, being of not less than sixty years, having been wife of one man,

But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

Thus, they bring the judgment [for being untrustworthy] on themselves because they have broken their previous pledge. [Note: This probably refers to younger widows who pledged themselves to fulfill some important church activity and then quit suddenly to get married. But some suggest it refers to them leaving the faith and marrying a non-Christian].

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

If any convert has widow-relations, let such relieve them, that the church may not be charged, but with the relief of such as are entirely destitute.

For the Scripture says [Deut. 25:4], "You should not put a muzzle on the ox while it tramples over the grain." And [Luke 10:7], "The worker deserves his wages."

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

But, them who are sinning, before all, do thou reprove, that, the rest also, may have, fear: -

Do not put hands on any man without thought, and have no part in other men's sins: keep yourself clean.

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

The sins of some people are conspicuous, leading the way for them into judgment [so that they are clearly not qualified for ministry]; but the sins of others appear later [for they are hidden and follow behind them].

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior),

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.