Bible (American Standard)/1 Timothy

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy
==Chapter 1==
 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the
commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope; 
 unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from
God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 As I exhorted
thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that
thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different
doctrine, 
 neither to give heed to fables and endless
genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a
dispensation of God which is in faith; [so do I now]. 
 But
the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good
conscience and faith unfeigned: 
 from which things some
having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; 
 desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand
neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.
 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully, 
 as knowing this, that law is not made for a
righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly
and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 
 for
fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for
menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any
other thing contrary to the sound doctrine; 
 according to
the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed
to my trust. 
 I thank him that enabled me, [even] Christ
Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me
to [his] service; 
 though I was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I
did it ignorantly in unbelief; 
 and the grace of our Lord
abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ
Jesus. 
 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief: 
 howbeit for this cause I
obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show
forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should
thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. 
 Now unto the
King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and
glory forever and ever. Amen. 
 This charge I commit unto
thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led
the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;
 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having
thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith: 
 of
whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan,
that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
==Chapter 2==
 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;
 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead
a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 
 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the
knowledge of the truth. 
 For there is one God, one mediator
also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus, 
 who
gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony [to be borne] in
its own times; 
 whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an
apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and truth. 
 I desire therefore that the
men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath
and disputing. 
 In like manner, that women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with
braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; 
 but
(which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.
 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.
 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion
over a man, but to be in quietness. 
 For Adam was first
formed, then Eve; 
 and Adam was not beguiled, but the
woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: 
 but
she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue
in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.
==Chapter 3==
 Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of
a bishop, he desireth a good work. 
 The bishop therefore
must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 
 no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of
money; 
 one that ruleth well his own house, having [his]
children in subjection with all gravity; 
 (but if a man
knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of
the church of God?) 
 not a novice, lest being puffed up he
fall into the condemnation of the devil. 
 Moreover, he must
have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall
into reproach and the snare of the devil. 
 Deacons in like
manner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 
 holding the mystery of
the faith in a pure conscience. 
 And let these also first
be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.
 Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers,
temperate, faithful in all things. 
 Let deacons be
husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own
houses well. 
 For they that have served well as deacons
gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the
faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
 These things write I unto
thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; 
 but if I tarry
long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves
in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth. 
 And without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness;
He who was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the spirit,
Seen of angels,
Preached among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
==Chapter 4==
 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, 
 through the hypocrisy of
men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a
hot iron; 
 forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain
from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving
by them that believe and know the truth. 
 For every
creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be
received with thanksgiving: 
 for it is sanctified through
the word of God and prayer. 
 If thou put the brethren in
mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ
Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good
doctrine which thou hast followed [until now]: 
 but refuse
profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto
godliness: 
 for bodily exercise is profitable for a little;
but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of
the life which now is, and of that which is to come. 
 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. 
 For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope
set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially
of them that believe. 
 These things command and teach.
 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to
them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in
faith, in purity. 
 Till I come, give heed to reading, to
exhortation, to teaching. 
 Neglect not the gift that is in
thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of
the hands of the presbytery. 
 Be diligent in these things;
give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest
unto all. 
 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching.
Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both
thyself and them that hear thee.
==Chapter 5==
 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the
younger men as brethren: 
 the elder women as mothers; the
younger as sisters, in all purity. 
 Honor widows that are
widows indeed. 
 But if any widow hath children or
grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their
own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable
in the sight of God. 
 Now she that is a widow indeed, and
desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in
supplications and prayers night and day. 
 But she that
giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. 
 These
things also command, that they may be without reproach. 
 But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own
household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an
unbeliever. 
 Let none be enrolled as a widow under
threescore years old, [having been] the wife of one man, 
 well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up
children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath
washed the saints' feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if
she hath diligently followed every good work. 
 But younger
widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ,
they desire to marry; 
 having condemnation, because they
have rejected their first pledge. 
 And withal they learn
also [to be] idle, going about from house to house; and not only
idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which
they ought not. 
 I desire therefore that the younger
[widows] marry, bear children, rule the household, give no
occasion to the adversary for reviling: 
 for already some
are turned aside after Satan. 
 If any woman that believeth
hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be
burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.
 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double
honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox
when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his
hire. 
 Against an elder receive not an accusation, except
at [the mouth of] two or three witnesses. 
 Them that sin
reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
 I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus,
and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without
prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 
 Lay hands hastily
on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself
pure. 
 Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little
wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. 
 Some men's sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and
some men also they follow after. 
 In like manner also
there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise
cannot be hid.
==Chapter 6==
 Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their
own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the
doctrine be not blasphemed. 
 And they that have believing
masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren;
but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of
the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and
exhort. 
 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and
consenteth not to sound words, [even] the words of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; 
 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting
about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, 
 wranglings of men
corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that
godliness is a way of gain. 
 But godliness with contentment
is great gain: 
 for we brought nothing into the world, for
neither can we carry anything out; 
 but having food and
covering we shall be therewith content. 
 But they that are
minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many
foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and
perdition. 
 For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the
faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow
after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life
eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good
confession in the sight of many witnesses. 
 I charge thee
in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good
confession; 
 that thou keep the commandment, without spot,
without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
 which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 
 who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable;
whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honor and power
eternal. Amen. 
 Charge them that are rich in this present
world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on
the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all
things to enjoy; 
 that they do good, that they be rich in
good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; 
 laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on
the life which is [life] indeed. 
 O Timothy, guard that
which is committed unto [thee], turning away from the profane
babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so
called; 
 which some professing have erred concerning the
faith. Grace be with you.