1 Timothy

¹ From: Paul, an emissary of Christ Jesus based on the assignment of God, our liberator, and Christ Jesus, our hope.

² To: Timothy, a genuine child in connection with faithfulness.

May you experience generosity, compassion, and peace from Father God and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ As I encouraged you when you were staying in Ephesus while I traveled to Macedonia, spread word to people not to teach a different teaching ⁴ nor to pay attention to rumors and endless genealogies, which provide for petty investigations rather than God’s arrangement of things in connection with faithfulness. ⁵ The aim of spreading that message is love that comes from a clean heart, attentiveness to generous kindness, and sincere faithfulness ⁶ since some have diverged from love and turned toward meaningless discussion, ⁷ wanting to be Bible teachers but not understanding what they’re talking about or what they’re asserting so confidently.

⁸ We have seen that Torah is beautiful if someone makes use of it based on what Torah is actually about, ⁹ having understood that Torah is not in place for a person who already lives in alignment with Torah but for those who disregard Torah and do not cooperate with it. It is for those who are disrespectful and deviating, for those who treat those who are sacred without dignity and for those who have not been consecrated for sacred calling, for people who assault their own fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for people who engage in sexual exploitation, for men who rape other males, for people who engage in human trafficking, for liars and people who break oaths, and for people who do anything else that is contrary to healthy teaching ¹¹ that’s based on the delighted God’s praiseworthy Triumphant Message with which I was entrusted.

¹² I am grateful the one who empowered me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful, appointing me as a servant, ¹³ even though I used to be someone who spoke disrespectfully against people, a persecutor, and arrogant. Nevertheless, I was treated with committed compassion since I acted unfaithfully without understanding. ¹⁴ The generosity of our Lord overflows with faithfulness and love in connection with Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This statement is trustworthy and worthy of complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came to the world to liberate those who deviate, of whom I am foremost. ¹⁶ However, that’s why I was treated with committed compassion, so that with me as the foremost, Christ Jesus could demonstrate complete patience as an example for those who were going to faithfully place their trust in him for agelong life. ¹⁷ To the one who reigns across the ages, the immortal, invisible, only God be honor and praise throughout age after age. Amen.

¹⁸ I am presenting to you this message to spread, child—Timothy—based on the prophecies laid out to guide you, so that with them, you may engage in the honorable campaign, ¹⁹ maintaining faithfulness and kind attentiveness. Some who have rejected them have experienced a shipwreck concerning faithfulness, ²⁰ such as Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I gave over to the Adversary so that they could be trained up like children not to treat people disrespectfully.

¹ First of all, therefore, I encourage making requests, prayers, intercessions, and giving thanks for all people— ² even for those who reign and for all who are connected with supremacy—so that we may lead a stable and undisturbed life with complete respect and dignity. ³ This is pleasing and welcomed from the perspective of God our Liberator, ⁴ who wants all people to be liberated and to come toward an understanding of truth. ⁵ You see, God is one, and there is one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as payment for the price to free many people from enslavement, evidence of this presented at the proper moment. ⁷ I’m speaking the truth; I’m not lying: I was appointed with faithfulness and trustworthiness as a herald of that evidence and an emissary and teacher for other peoples.

⁸ Therefore, I wish for the men everywhere to pray raising hands that act in alignment with divine values, free from anger and arguing. ⁹ Similarly, I wish for women to arrange themselves with restraint and moderation, with respect for God and self-discipline, not with plaiting and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, ¹⁰ but rather with generous actions, which make them stand out as women who claim to respect God.

¹¹ May a woman learn with full cooperation undisturbed, ¹² but I’m not directing the woman to take over teaching and domineer over a man, just to be undisturbed. ¹³ You see, first, Adam was formed, and then Eve was formed. ¹⁴ Adam was not tricked, but the woman, who was tricked, came to be in a sidestep. ¹⁵ However, Eve will be liberated through having had children if they persist with self-discipline in faithfulness, love, and designation for sacred purposes.

¹ This statement is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to providing supervision, they desire honorable work. ² Therefore, it is necessary for the supervisor to be guiltless—a one-woman man, even-tempered, self-disciplined, self-regulated, welcoming of foreigners, skilled at teaching, ³ not abusive, not aggressive but gentle, never fighting, unmotivated by money, ⁴ leading their own household honorably, looking after children with cooperation and with dignity ⁵ (but if someone doesn’t understand leading their own household, how will they take care of God’s assembly?) ⁶ It is necessary for them not to be newly planted so that they won’t, having been deluded, charge blindly into a decision of the False Accuser, ⁷ and it’s also necessary to have evidence of a good reputation among those outside the assembly so that they won’t run into an insult and trap of the False Accuser.

⁸ Similarly, it’s necessary for servers to be respectable—not duplicitous, not devoting themselves to a lot of wine, not intent on dishonest gain, ⁹ and keeping in mind the mystery of faithfulness with sincere attentiveness. ¹⁰ These people should be vetted first, and then if there are no concerns, they should serve.

¹¹ Similarly, it’s necessary for women to be respectable—not prejudiced, even-tempered, and faithful in everything. ¹² Servers should be one-woman men who lead their children and their own households honorably. ¹³ You see, those who serve honorably secure for themselves an honorable status and a lot of freedom to speak regarding faithfulness to Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, even though I hope to come to you soon, ¹⁵ in case I am delayed so that you can know how it is necessary to live as part of God’s household, which is the assembly of the God-Who-Is-Alive, a pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ The mystery of respectfulness is admittedly vast:

“He who was clearly shown bodily,

Was considered just by the standard of the Life-breath,

Seen by messengers,

Announced among other peoples,

Trusted throughout the world,

And taken up with renown.

¹ The Life-breath clearly says that in later times, some will abandon faithfulness, devoting themselves to misleading spirit-breaths and demonic teachings, ² because of phoniness on the part of those who speak lies, those who have cauterized their own attentiveness, ³ those who forbid people to marry or require people to keep away from foods which God created for partaking with thanksgiving for the faithful and those who have understood the truth. ⁴ You see, every creation of God is valuable, and nothing received with thanksgiving is to be discarded ⁵ because it is being designated for sacred purposes by what God says and intercession.

⁶ When you explain these things to members of the Family, you will be an admirable servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished with discussions of faithfulness and healthy teaching which you have followed closely. ⁷ But decline to participate regarding conventional and uninformed narratives. Train yourself in respectfulness. ⁸ You see, training the body is somewhat beneficial, but respectfulness is beneficial for everything, holding promise for the present life and the one that’s coming. ⁹ That statement is trustworthy and is worth full acceptance. ¹⁰ You see, this is why we labor and strive: we have placed our hope in the God-Who-is-Alive, who is the liberator of all people, especially those who are faithful.

¹¹ Spread and teach these things. ¹² No one should think less of you because of your youth; instead, become an example among the faithful in what you say, in what you do, in love, in faithfulness, and in sacredness. ¹³ Until I come, attend to reading aloud, encouragement, and teaching. ¹⁴ Don’t be careless with the gift you have, which was given to you through prophecy, as well as the elders placing their hands on you. ¹⁵ Care for these things, immerse yourself in them, resulting in your progress being apparent to everyone. ¹⁶ Give attention to yourself and to your teaching; stay present to them because by doing so, you will liberate both yourself and those who listen to you.

¹ Don’t berate an older man but encourage him as a father—the same with younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete sacredness.

³ Support widows who really are bereft. ⁴ However, if someone widowed has children or descendants, the children should first learn to treat their own household with respect and to give back in reciprocity to their elder family members since this is pleasing from God’s perspective. ⁵ However, the one who is really widowed and left completely alone has placed her hope in God and keeps on with her requests and her prayers night and day. ⁶ The widow who lives luxuriously has died though she is still alive. ⁷ Spread these ideas so that people will be guiltless. ⁸ However, if someone does not even take care of a member of their own household, then they have refused faithfulness and are worse than faithless.

⁹ A widow should be appointed to an official position if she is at least 60 years old, is a one-man woman, ¹⁰ and is known for admirable actions—for example, if she raised children, if she welcomed foreigners, if she washed the feet of those who are designated for sacred purposes, if she came to the aid of those being oppressed, if she closely followed every selfless action.

¹¹ Decline to appoint younger widowed women because when they feel compelled toward luxury rather than Christ, they could want to marry, ¹² inviting judgment because they set aside the first commitment. ¹³ At the same time, they also learn to be inactive, going around house to house, and not only inactive but also oblivious, wasting time, and talking about inappropriate things. ¹⁴ Therefore, I wish for younger women to marry, have children, and manage a household, so as not to give someone in opposition opportunity to criticize because of it. ¹⁵ Already, some were turned away, following in the Adversary’s footsteps. ¹⁶ If a faithful woman has widows with her, she should come to their aid, and the assembly should not overburden itself, so that it can come to the aid of those who are truly bereft.

¹⁷ The elders who have led you honorably should be eligible for dual support, especially those who labor with conversation and teaching. ¹⁸ You see, the scripture says, “Don’t muzzle an ox while it is treading the grain,” and “The laborer is worth their payment.” ¹⁹ Do not affirm an accusation against an elder except based on two or three witnesses. ²⁰ However, expose the elders who do deviate in front of everyone so that the rest will be warned. ²¹ I swear in front of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen messengers that you would observe these things without there being any prejudice or anyone doing anything based on bias. ²² Don’t lay hands on anyone hastily, but also don’t be complicit in other people’s deviations. Keep yourself genuine. ²³ (Don’t drink water anymore, but instead use a little wine for your stomach and your recurring illnesses) ²⁴ Some people’s deviations are obvious, leading to a decisive response, but for some, they catch up with them later. ²⁵ Similarly, honorable actions are also obvious, and ones that aren’t obvious can’t stay hidden.

¹ Whoever is under the yoke as enslaved workers should consider even their own enslavers as worthy of being treated with complete dignity so that the name of God and the Teaching would not be discredited. ² Those who have “faithful” enslavers should not look down on them, because they are members of the Family, but rather serve them even that much more, because the ones who benefit from their kind action are faithful and loved.

Teach and encourage these things. ³ If someone teaches something different and does not come over to healthy ideas (to the ones of our Lord Jesus Christ) and to the Teaching that is grounded in respectfulness, ⁴ having been deluded, understanding nothing, but rather having a sick obsession with controversies and arguments, out of which come to be resentment, fighting, speaking disrespectfully, acts of harmful suspiciousness, ⁵ and constant friction from people whose minds have been corrupted and robbed of the truth, who consider treating people respectfully as being for their own gain. ⁶ However, treating people respectfully is itself sufficiently great gain. ⁷ You see, we brought nothing into the world, so neither can we bring anything out of it. ⁸ When we have food and shelter, we’ll be satisfied with those. ⁹ However, those who intend to be wealthy fall into testing and a trap and many foolish and injurious desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ You see, attachment to money is a root of every sort of harm, by which some who reach for it have been led away from the commitment and inflicted many sorrows on themselves.

¹¹ However, as a person of God, run away from these things. Instead, pursue living justly, respectfulness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Strive for the honorable prize of faithfulness, take hold of the life of the Age for which you were called and for which you acknowledged the honorable acknowledgment in front of many witnesses. ¹³ I pass on to you—in front of the God-Who-Births-Life-for-All-Things and Christ Jesus who testified the honorable acknowledgment to Pontius Pilate— ¹⁴ to preserve the flawless and non-negotiable direction until our Lord Jesus Christ is made clearly visible, ¹⁵ which the gratified and only powerful one, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will show at the proper time. ¹⁶ He alone is who possesses immortality, who resides in unapproachable light, whom no human has seen or can see. To him be honor and agelong power. Amen.

¹⁷ Pass it on to those who are wealthy in the present age not to think of themselves as above others or to have placed their hope in wealth because of uncertainty but, instead, in God who richly offers us everything for gratification. ¹⁸ Pass on to them to be generous, to be wealthy in honorable actions, to be willing to give freely, inclined to share with others, ¹⁹ investing in a noble foundation for themselves for the coming Age, so that they can take hold of what is truly life.

²⁰ Timothy, protect the deposit, turning your back on the normal, empty discussion and incompatibility of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ by which some, those who promote it, have diverged from faithfulness.

May good fortune be with you all.