And I wish you not to be ignorant, brethren, of them having been asleep, that ye should not grieve, as also the rest, they hating no hope.

And this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come before they which sleep.

for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first:

When people say, "Such peace and security!" then suddenly destruction falls upon them, like birth pains upon a woman who is about to become a mother, but they shall not escape, no, not at all.

For, they that sleep, by night, do sleep, and, they that drink, by night, do drink: -

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,

continue to hold them in the highest esteem for the sake of the work they do. Practice living at peace with one another.

Unceasing thanks are due from us to God on your behalf, brethren. They are appropriate because your faith is growing greatly, and the love of every one of you for all the others goes on increasing.

They are an evidence of the righteous judgment of God, who will count you worthy of his kingdom, in behalf of which you are even now suffering.

They shall suffer punishment, even an eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the brightness of his glorious majesty,

and with a completely wicked deception for men who are on the way to destruction, because they refused to love the truth so as to be saved.

This is why God sends them a misleading influence till they actually believe what is false,

so that they might be condemned--all those who did not believe the truth, but who delighted in unrighteousness.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you to withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition, which they received from us.

Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].

Now to such men we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they should eat their own bread.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

and the attention they bestow on mere fables and endless pedigrees, such as lead to controversy rather than to a true stewardship for God, which only exists where there is faith. And I make the same request now.

And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.

They want to be teachers of the law, although they do not understand the words they use or the things about which they make such confident assertions.

These are the instructions that I intrust to you, my son Timothy, and they are in accordance with the predictions made long ago about you. Fight the good fight with their aid,

having faith and a good conscience, which some, [because they] have rejected [these], have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith,

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan to be so disciplined that they will stop their abusive speech.

Now I want the men to offer prayer at any meeting of the church; and let the hands they lift to heaven be holy ??they must be free from anger and dissension.

Likewise also the women, that they array themselves in comely apparel with shamefastness, and discreet behavior, not with broided hair, other gold, or pearls, or costly array:

but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.

I do not allow women to teach or to domineer over men; they must keep quiet.

But women will be saved through motherhood, if they continue to live in faith, love, and purity, blended with good sense.

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 they must continue to hold the open secret of faith with a clear conscience.

They, too, should first be tested till approved, and then, if they are found above reproach, they should serve as deacons.

The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy.

Deacons are only to be married once, and they must manage their children and households properly.

For, they who have ministered well, a good degree for themselves, are acquiring, and great freedom of speech in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

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

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

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in the treatment of their own families, and to pay the debt they owe their parents or grandparents, for this is acceptable to God.

And command these things, so that they may be blameless.

Keep the young widows off this roll, for when they get to indulging their lower nature in opposition to Christ, they want to marry,

which has condemnation because they have disregarded the original pledge.

Besides, as they get the habit of gadding about from house to house, they learn to be idle, and not only idle but gossips and busybodies, talking of things they ought not to mention.

Therefore, I want the younger widows to get married, have children and manage their homes, so that they do not give the enemy [i.e., non-Christians] an opportunity for speaking against [the church].

Elders who do their duties well should be considered as deserving twice the salary they get especially those who keep on toiling in preaching and teaching.

The sins of some men are evident, leading to judgment, but also for some they follow after.

Good deeds, too, are usually very evident, and if they are not, they cannot be completely concealed.

Those who have Christian masters must not pay them less respect because they are brothers; they must serve them all the better, because those who get the benefit of their service are believers and so are dear to them. These are the things that you must continue to teach and urge them to do.

[and] continual wranglings between people with corrupt minds, who are deprived of the truth. They think that [professing] godliness is a way to obtain [financial] gain.

we ought to think that sufficient. but they who will be rich, expose

But, they who are determined to be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful covetings, the which, sink men into ruin and destruction, -

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

in this way amassing for themselves the riches that forever endure in the life to come, so that at last they may grasp the life that is life indeed.

Timothy, guard what has been intrusted to you. Keep away from the worldly, empty phrases and contradictions of what they falsely call knowledge,

which science, while some professed, they have erred as concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. {The end of the First Epistle unto Timothy, Sent from Laodicea, which is the Chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.}

Thou knowest this - that all they who are in Asia have turned away from me, - of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Continue shunning worldly, futile phrases, for they lead on to greater depths of godlessness,

and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.

men who missed the mark about the truth, saying the resurrection happened already, and they overthrow the faith of some.

Always avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, for you know that they breed quarrels,

He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],

and they might recover their senses and escape from the devil's trap in which they have been caught by him to do his will.

For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,

[and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good,

They will hate goodness, they will be treacherous, reckless, blinded with pride, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.

For although they keep up the outward form of religion, they deny its power.

For these are they who go secretly into houses, making prisoners of foolish women, weighted down with sin, turned from the way by their evil desires,

always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, these people resist the truth, for they are depraved in mind and so counterfeits in the faith.

But they will not make any more progress, for their folly will be evident to everybody, as theirs was.

as for these impious impostors, they will go on from bad to worse, seducing others, and deluding themselves.

You, however, must stand by what you learnt and accepted as true. You know who they were from whom you learnt it;

For a time will come when they will not listen to wholesome teaching, but to gratify their own evil desires will surround themselves with teachers who teach to gratify their own evil desires, because their ears are itching so to be tickled,

and they will cease to listen to the truth and will turn to listen to myths.

At the time of my first defense no one stood by me; on the contrary they all deserted me??ay it not be laid to their charge!

Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled.

For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, -

whose mouths must be stopped, for they upset whole families by teaching things they ought not to think, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Now this tendency is true. So continue correcting them severely, that they may be healthy in faith,

To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought.

They profess to know God, but by their actions they disown Him; they are detestable, disobedient, and useless for anything good.

Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good,

so that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Young men likewise exhort that they be sober minded.

Let the instruction that you give be sound and above reproach, so that our opponents may be ashamed because they find no evil things to say about us.

Slaves should be in subjection to their own masters in everything. They should try hard to please them, without talking back

to stop resisting them and stealing from them, but to show such perfect fidelity as to adorn, in everything they do, the teaching of God our Saviour.

Make clear to them that they are to put themselves under rulers and authorities, to do what they are ordered, to be ready for every good work,

they must speak evil of none, they must not be quarrelsome, but gentle, showing perfect meekness toward all.

Faithful, the saying! And, concerning these things, I am minded that thou be strongly affirming, in order that they who have believed God may be careful to be forward, in noble works. These things, are honourable, and profitable unto men;

But avoid foolish questionings, and genealogies, and contentions, and legal fightings, for they are useless and vain.

Give a hearty send-off to Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, so that they may want for nothing.

And also let our men learn to be in the lead of good works for the essential needs, so that they may not be unfruitful.

All they who are with me salute thee. Salute thou them who regard us with faithful affection. Favour, be with you all.

and I pray that through coming to know every good thing about us as Christians they may effectually share your faith.

Having become so much better than the heavenly agents, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.

They will perish, but you always remain; they all will grow old like a coat,