For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness.

Therefore the one who rejects [this] [is] not rejecting man, but God, [who] also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord's coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need [of anything] to be written to you,

for [you] yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the [same] way as a thief in the night.

Whenever they say "Peace and security," then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of {a pregnant woman}, and they will not possibly escape.

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief,

for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

because God did not appoint us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophecies,

with burning flame giving punishment to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,

that you not be easily shaken from your composure, nor be troubled either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter {alleged to be from us}, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived.

Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for [that day will not come] unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

Do you not remember that [while] we were still with you, we were saying these [things] to you?

and with every unrighteous deception against those who are perishing, in place of which they did not accept the love of the truth, so that they would be saved.

in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth, but delighted in unrighteousness.

and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, {for not all have the faith}.

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.

For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you,

nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, [we were] working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you,

not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves [as] an example to you, so that [you] may imitate us.

For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: that if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat.

But [as for] you, brothers, do not be discouraged [while] doing what is right.

But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame.

And do not consider [him] as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.

Just as I urged you [when I] traveled to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus, so that you may instruct certain people not to teach other doctrine,

and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God's plan [that is] by faith.

wanting to be teachers of the law, [although they] do not understand either [the things] which they are saying or [the things] concerning which they are speaking confidently.

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,

among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, in order that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am speaking the truth, [I am] not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Likewise also the women should adorn themselves in appropriate clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold jewelry or pearls or expensive clothing,

But I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but {to remain quiet}.

and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, [because she] was deceived, came into transgression.

not addicted to wine, not a violent person, but gentle, peaceable, not loving money,

(but if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

not newly converted, lest he become conceited [and] fall into the condemnation of the devil.

But [he] must also have a good testimony from those outside, in order that he may not fall into disgrace and the trap of the devil.

Deacons likewise [must be] dignified, not insincere, not devoted to much wine, not fond of dishonest gain,

The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things].

Do not neglect the gift [that is] in you, that was granted to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to [him] as a father, younger men as brothers,

But the widow [who is one] truly, and is left alone, has put her hope in God and continues in her petitions and prayers night and day.

But if someone does not provide for his own [relatives], and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Let a widow be put on the list [if she] is not less than sixty years [old], the wife of one husband,

And at the same time also, going around from house to house, they learn [to be] idle, and not only idle, but also gossipy and busybodies, saying the things [that are] not necessary.

If any believing woman has widows, she must help them, and the church must not be burdened, in order that it may help those [who are] truly widows.

For the scripture says, "You must not muzzle an ox [while it] is threshing," and "The worker [is] worthy of his wages."

Do not accept an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Lay hands on no one hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Likewise also good works [are] evident, and those considered otherwise are not able to be hidden.

And those who have believing masters must not look down on [them] because they are brothers, but rather they must serve, because those who benefit by their service are believers and dearly loved.

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not devote himself to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching [that is] in accordance with godliness,

Command those [who are] rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all [things] richly for enjoyment,

{I am thankful} to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience {as my ancestors did}, when {I remember you constantly} in my prayers night and day,

For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline.

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but suffer along with [me] for the gospel, according to the power of God,

who saved us and called [us] with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus {before time began},

for which reason also I suffer these [things]. But [I am] not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard [what] I have entrusted until that day.

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment,

And also if anyone competes he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of {imprisonment} as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound.

Remind [people] of these [things], solemnly urging [them] before the Lord not to dispute about words. [This is] in no way beneficial [and leads to] the ruin of the hearers.

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path.

Now in a great house [there] are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware [ones], some of which [are] for honorable use, and some of which [are] for ordinary use.

And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant,

But they will not progress to a greater extent, for their folly will be quite evident to everyone, as also the [folly] of those [two] was.

For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, {because they have an insatiable curiosity},

Finally, the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

At my first defense, no one came to my [aid], but [they] all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

in the hope of eternal life which God, who does not lie, promised before eternal ages,

If anyone is blameless, [the] husband of one wife, having faithful children, not {accused of dissipation} or rebellious.

For it is necessary [for] the overseer to be blameless as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain,

whom it is necessary to silence, whoever are ruining whole families [by] teaching [things] which must not be [taught] for the sake of dishonest gain.

not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of people who turn away from the truth.

Older women likewise [are to be] reverent in [their] behavior, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

[to be] self-controlled, pure, busy at home, good, being subject to their own husbands, in order that the word of God may not be slandered.

Slaves must be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not to talk back,

not stealing, but demonstrating all good faith, in order that they may do credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.

he saved us, not by deeds of righteousness that we have done, but because of his mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

But also our [people] must learn to engage in good deeds for necessary needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

But apart from your consent, I wanted to do nothing, in order that your good [deed] might be not as according to necessity, but according to [your own] free will.

and like a robe you will roll them up, and like a garment they will be changed; but you are the same, and your years will not run out."

Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

For he did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.

you subjected all [things] under his feet. For in subjecting all [things], he left nothing [that was] not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all [things] subjected to him,

For both the one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified [are] all from one, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

For surely he is not concerned with angels, but he is concerned with the descendants of Abraham.

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,

[for] forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and I said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they do not know my ways.'

{while it is said}, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

For who, [when they] heard [it], were disobedient? Surely [it was] not all who went out from Egypt through Moses?

And with whom was he angry [for] forty years? [Was it] not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did he swear [they would] not enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?