CHAPTER II.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL, WIDOWS, ELDERS, SERVANTS, ETC.
1 3:1IT is a true saying, If any one desires an episcopate he desires a good work. 3:2It is necessary therefore that a bishop should be blameless, a husband of one wife, circumspect, sober, well-behaved, hospitable, apt to teach, 3:3not a wine-drinker, not a quarrelsome man, but gentle, not contentious, not avaricious, 3:4ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity,— 3:5but if any one knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?— 3:6not a novice, lest being inflated with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 3:7And he must also have a good name from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil.
2 3:8The deacons in like manner ought to be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not devoted to base gain, 3:9having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 3:10And let these be proved first, then let them serve, being found blameless. 3:11The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things. 3:12Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses. 3:13For they who exercise the deaconship well, procure for themselves an honorable standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
3 3:14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; 3:15but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 3:16And confessedly great is the mystery of piety; [Christ,] who was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen by angels, was preached to the nations, was believed on in the world, was received up into glory.
4 4:1But the Spirit says expressly, that in the last times some shall apostatize from the faith, attending to lying spirits and doctrines of demons, 4:2[misled] by the hypocrisy of false teachers, whose consciences are cauterized, 4:3who forbid to marry, [command] to abstain from meat, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and those who know the truth. 4:4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected, [but] to be received with thanksgiving; 4:5for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.
5 4:6Suggesting these things to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and the good instruction which you have followed; 4:7but avoid profane and silly myths; exercise yourself in piety; 4:8for bodily exercise profits little; but piety is profitable in all things, having a promise of the present life and of the life to come. 4:9It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 4:10For to this end we also labor and suffer reproach, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.
6 4:11These things command and teach. 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the faithful, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 4:13Till I come attend to reading, exhortation, teaching. 4:14Neglect not the gift which is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the imposition of hands of the eldership. 4:15Study these things, be much in them, that your improvement may be manifest to all. 4:16Attend to yourself, and to teaching; continue in it, for doing this you will both save yourself and those that hear you.
7 5:1Rebuke not an aged man, but entreat him as a father, the younger men as brothers, 5:2the aged women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. 5:3Support the widows who are widows indeed. 5:4But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5:5But one that is a widow indeed and alone hopes in God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day; 5:6but a woman that lives voluptuously is dead while she lives. 5:7And command these things, that they be blameless. 5:8And if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.
8 5:9Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband, 5:10well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work. 5:11But reject the younger widows; for when they fall into pleasure to the neglect of Christ, they wish to marry, 5:12being condemned because they have rejected the first faith; 5:13and at the same time also, being idle, they learn to go from house to house, and not only are they idle, they are also tattlers and mischief makers, saying what they ought not. 5:14I wish therefore the younger women to marry, bear children, keep house, give no occasion of reproach to the enemy; 5:15for some have already turned back after Satan. 5:16If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, let them give them relief, and let not the church be burdened, that it may be able to relieve those really widows.
9 5:17Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of a double compensation, especially those who labor in word and teaching. 5:18For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes; and, The laborer is worthy of his reward. 5:19Against an elder receive not an accusation, except by two or three witnesses. 5:20Those that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
10 5:21I charge you before God, and Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality. 5:22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither partake of others' sins. Keep yourself pure. 5:23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine on account of your stomach and your frequent infirmities. 5:24The sins of some men are manifest, going before to judgment; but some they follow; 5:25in like manner also good works are manifest, and those which are otherwise cannot be hid.
11 6:1Let as many servants as are under the yoke account their masters worthy of all honor, that the name and doctrine of God may not be blasphemed. 6:2And let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather serve, because they are believers and beloved, who partake of the benefit.
12 These things teach and exhort. 6:3If any one teaches differently, and consents not to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to piety, 6:4he is blinded and knows nothing, but has a sickly longing for debates and wars of words, from which arise envy, contention, blasphemies, evil suspicions, 6:5and wranglings of men of unsound judgments and destitute of the truth, supposing that piety is gain. 6:6But piety with contentment is great gain. 6:7For we brought nothing into the world; it is clear that we can carry nothing out of it; 6:8but having food and clothing let us be contented with them. 6:9But those who wish to be rich fall into trial and a snare, and many foolish and injurious desires, which plunge men into destruction and perdition. 6:10For the love of money is a root of all evils, which some having desired have been misled from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
13 6:11But do you, O man of God, avoid these things; but pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and made the good profession before many witnesses. 6:13I charge you before the God who gives life to all [creatures], and Christ Jesus who made the good profession before Pontius Pilate, 6:14that you keep the charge without spot, without blame, till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 6:15which the blessed and only Potentate will show in its times, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, 6:16who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen nor can see; to whom be honor and power eternal; amen.
14 6:17Charge the rich in the present life not to be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy, 6:18to perform good works, to be rich in good works, to be liberal, benevolent, 6:19treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold on the true life.
15 6:20O Timothy, keep the trust, turning away from profane and empty words, and contradictions of mis-named science, 6:21which some having professed have erred from the faith. The grace be with you.