
{1}1{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by a command of God our 
Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, [=]_{R}_{I}2_{/}to Timothy, my true 
son in the faith.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy 
and peace.

{N}FALSE TEACHERS{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}3_{/}When I left for Macedonia I urged you to remain in 
Ephesus to warn certain persons not to teach false doctrine 
{R}_{I}4_{/}or to concern themselves with fables and endless genealogies. 
These give rise to discussions rather than promoting a better 
service of God through faith. {I}5_{/}The aim of our warning is love 
which comes from a pure mind, a good conscience and sincere faith.
{I}6_{/}Some have turned away from such a motivation and have strayed 
into useless discussions. {R}_{I}7_{/}They claim to be teachers of the 
Law when, in fact, they understand neither what they say nor the 
things they speak about.
[=]_{R}_{I}8_{/}We know that the Law is good, as long as it{I}_{/}serves its 
purpose. [=]_{R}_{I}9_{/}The Law is not for the righteous, but for the 
lawless and for the wicked and sinful, for those who do not 
respect God and religion, for those who kill their parents, for 
murderers, {I}10_{/}for those who indulge in unlawful sex and 
homosexuality, for kidnappers and exploiters, for liars and 
perjurers and for all that is contrary to sound doctrine, 
[=]_{R}_{I}11_{/}to the Gospel of the God of glory and happiness, which 
was entrusted to me.
{R}_{I}12_{/}I give thanks to Christ Jesus, our Lord, who is my strength, 
who has considered me trustworthy and appointed me to his service, 
[=]_{I}13_{/}although I had been a blasphemer, a persecutor and a 
rabid enemy. However he took mercy on me because I did not know 
what I was doing when I opposed the faith; [=]_{I}14_{/}and the grace 
of our Lord was more than abundant, together with faith and 
Christian love. 
[=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}This saying is true and worthy of belief: Christ Jesus 
came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. 
{R}_{I}16_{/}Because of that I was forgiven; Christ Jesus wanted to 
display his greatness in me so that I might be an example for all 
who are to believe and obtain eternal life. [=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}To the King 
of ages, the only God who lives beyond every perishable and 
visible creation - to him be honor and glory forever. Amen!
[=]_{I}18_{/}Timothy, my son, I command you to fight the good fight, 
fulfilling the prophetic words pronounced over you. [=]_{I}19_{/}Hold 
onto faith and a good conscience, unlike those who, ignoring 
conscience, have finally wrecked their faith. {R}_{I}20_{/}Among them are 
Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered to Satan to be taught 
not to blaspheme.

{1}2{/}

[\u0095]_{I}1_{/}First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions 
and thanksgiving be made for everyone, [=]_{I}2_{/}for rulers of 
states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and 
peaceful life in godliness and respect. [=]_[*]_{R}_{I}3_{/}This is good 
and pleases God. {I}4_{/}For he wants all to be saved and come to the 
knowledge of truth. {R}_{I}5_{/}As there is one God, there is one 
mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 
[=]_{I}6_{/}who gave his life for the redemption of all. This is the 
testimony, given in its proper time, [=]_{R}_{I}7_{/}and of this, God has 
made me apostle and herald. I am not lying, I am telling the 
truth: He made me teacher of the nations regarding faith and 
truth.
{I}8_{/}I want the men in every place to lift pure hands in prayer to 
heaven without anger and dissension.
[=]_{I}9_{/}Let women dress with simplicity and modesty, not adorned 
with fancy hairstyles, gold, jewels and expensive clothes, 
{R}_{I}10_{/}but with good works, as is fitting for women serving God. 
{I}11_{/}Let a woman quietly receive instruction and be submissive. 
[=]_{I}12_{/}I allow no woman to teach or to have authority over men. 
Let them be quiet. [=]_{I}13_{/}For Adam was created first and then 
Eve. [=]_{I}14_{/}Adam was not deceived; it was the woman who was 
deceived and fell into sin. {I}15_{/}But she will be saved through 
motherhood, provided that her life be orderly and holy, in faith 
and love.

{N}REGARDING OVERSEERS AND DEACONS{/}

{1}3{/}

[\u0095]_{I}1_{/}If someone aspires to the over seer's ministry, he is 
without a doubt looking for a noble task. [=]_{I}2_{/}It is necessary 
that the overseer (or bishop) be beyond reproach, the husband of 
one wife, responsible, judicious, of good manners, hospitable and 
skillful in teaching. {I}3_{/}He must not be addicted to wine or 
quarrelsome, but gentle and peaceful, and not a lover of money, 
{R}_{I}4_{/}but a man whose household is well-managed, with obedient and 
well-mannered children. {R}_{I}5_{/}If he cannot govern his own house, 
how can he lead the assembly of God?
{I}6_{/}He must not be a recent convert, lest he become conceited and 
fall into the same condemnation as the devil. {I}7_{/}Moreover he must 
enjoy a good reputation among the outsiders, lest people speak 
evil about him and he fall into the snare of the devil.
[=]_{I}8_{/}Deacons, likewise, must be serious and sincere and 
moderate in drinking wine, not greedy for money, [=]_{I}9_{/}they must 
keep the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. [=]_{I}10_{/}Let 
them be first tried and, if found blameless, be accepted as 
deacons. [=]_{I}11_{/}In the same way the women must be conscientious, 
not given to gossip, but reserved and trustworthy.
{I}12_{/}A deacon must be husband of one wife, and must know how to 
guide his children and manage his household. {I}13_{/}Those who serve 
well as deacons will win honorable rank, with authority to speak 
of Christian faith.
[\u0095]_{I}14_{/}I give you these instructions, although I hope I will see 
you soon. {R}_{I}15_{/}If I delay, you will know how you ought to conduct 
yourself in the household of God, that is, the Church of the 
living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 
[=]_{R}_{I}16_{/}How great indeed is the mystery of divine blessing!
He was shown in the flesh
and sanctified by the Spirit;
presented to the angels
and proclaimed to all nations.
The world believed in him:
He was taken up in glory!

{1}4{/}

[\u0095]_{R}_{I}1_{/}The Spirit tells us clearly that in the last days some 
will defect from the faith and follow deceitful spirits and 
devilish doctrines, [=]_{I}2_{/}led by lying hypocrites whose 
conscience has been branded with the stamp of infamy.
[=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}These persons forbid marriage and condemn the use of 
certain foods which God created for those who know the truth, and 
which the believers receive with thanksgiving. [=]_{R}_{I}4_{/}Everything 
created by God is good, and all food is lawful; nothing is to be 
rejected if we receive it with thanksgiving, {R}_{I}5_{/}for it is 
blessed with the word of God and prayer, and made holy.
{R}_{I}6_{/}If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, you 
will prove to be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the 
teachings of faith and the sound doctrine which you have followed. 
[=]_{I}7_{/}Reject irreligious fables and old wives' tales. Train 
yourself in godliness. {R}_{I}8_{/}Physical training is of limited value; 
godliness, instead, is useful in every way, holding promise for 
the present life and for the life to come. {I}9_{/}Here you have a 
sure doctrine you can trust. [=]_{R}_{I}10_{/}We toil and endure because 
we trust in the living God, the Savior of all, especially of those 
who believe. 

{N}ADVICE TO TIMOTHY{/}

[\u0095]_{I}11_{/}Command and teach these things. {I}12_{/}Let no one reproach 
you on account of your youth. Be a model to the believers in the 
way you speak and act, in your love, your faith and purity of 
life. {I}13_{/}Devote yourself to reading, preaching and teaching, 
until I come. 
[=]_{I}14_{/}Do not neglect the spiritual gift conferred on you with 
prophetic words when the elders laid their hands upon you. 
{I}15_{/}Think about it and practice it{I}_{/}so that your progress may be 
seen by all. {I}16_{/}Take care of yourself and attend to your 
teaching. Be steadfast in doing this and you will save both 
yourself and your hearers.

{N}THE WIDOWS IN THE CHURCH{/}

{1}5{/}

[\u0095]_[=]_{R}_{I}1_{/}Do not rebuke an older  man; on the contrary, advise 
him as if he were your father. Treat the young as your brothers, 
{I}2_{/}the elder women as mothers and the young girls as your 
sisters, with great purity.
{I}3_{/}Take care of widows who are really widows. {R}_{I}4_{/}If a widow has 
children or grandchildren, they should first learn their family 
duties and give their parents financial help. This is correct and 
pleases God.
[=]_{R}_{I}5_{/}A true widow is one who, in being left alone, has set her 
hope in God, praying day and night to God and asking him for help. 
[=]_{R}_{I}6_{/}On the contrary, a widow who lives as she pleases is dead 
even while she lives. {I}7_{/}Warn them about this that they may be 
blameless. {I}8_{/}Those who do not take care of their own, especially 
those of their household, have denied the faith and are worse than 
unbelievers. 
{I}9_{/}Let no one be put on the list of widows unless she is sixty 
years old and has been married only once. [=]_{I}10_{/}She must be 
commended for her good works and the education of her children. 
Has she offered hospitality to and humbly served the saints, 
helped the suffering and practiced other good deeds? 
{I}11_{/}Do not accept younger widows; they may have other desires 
than for Christ and want to marry; {I}12_{/}then they deserve 
condemnation for breaking their first commitment. [=]_{I}13_{/}Besides 
they form the habit of being idle, going from house to house. And 
it is not just idleness! They become gossips and busybodies, 
saying what they should not.
[=]_{I}14_{/}So I want young widows to marry and have children, to 
rule their household and give adversaries no grounds for 
criticism. {I}15_{/}Some have already strayed to follow Satan. {I}16_{/}If 
any Christian woman has widows in her family, let her assist them; 
in this way the church will not be burdened and may assist those 
who are truly widows.

{N}REGARDING THE PRESBYTERS{/}

[\u0095]_{I}17_{/}Let the elders who rule well receive double compensation, 
especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 
{I}18_{/}Scripture says: Do not muzzle the ox while it threshes grain, 
and: The worker deserves his wages.
[=]_{I}19_{/}Do not accept accusations against an elder except on the 
evidence of two or three witnesses. {I}20_{/}If he continues to sin, 
rebuke him in the presence of the community, as a warning to the 
rest.
[=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}I urge you, in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and 
of the holy angels, to obey these rules with impartiality, without 
making distinctions. {I}22_{/}Do not be hasty in the laying on of 
hands, thus becoming an accomplice in the sins of others. Keep 
yourself free from blame. [=]_{I}24_{/}The sins of some people are 
plain to see, even before they are examined; the sins of others 
are known only later on. {I}25_{/}Likewise good deeds are conspicuous; 
even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.
{R}_{I}23_{/}Do not drink only water but take a little wine to help your 
digestion, because of your frequent illness.

{1}6{/}

{R}_{I}1_{/}Let those who are slaves  always show respect to their 
masters, so that no one may speak ill of God and his teaching. 
[=]_{I}2_{/}Those whose masters are Christians should not show less 
respect under the pretext that they are members of the church. On 
the contrary, they must give a better service since they are doing 
good works on behalf of believers and dear friends.

{N}LOVE OF MONEY{/}

Teach and stress these things. [=]_{R}_{I}3_{/}Whoever teaches in some 
other way, not following the sound teaching of our Lord Christ 
Jesus and true religious instruction, {I}4_{/}is conceited and 
understands nothing. This one is crazy about controversies and 
discussions which result in envy, insults, {I}5_{/}blows and constant 
arguments between people of depraved minds and far from the truth. 
For them, religion is merely for financial gain.
[=]_{I}6_{/}In reality, religion is a treasure if we are content with 
what we have. [=]_{I}7_{/}We brought nothing into the world and we 
will leave it with nothing. {I}8_{/}Let us then be content with having 
food and clothing. {I}9_{/}Those who strive to be rich fall into 
temptations and traps. A lot of foolish and harmful ambitions 
plunge them into ruin and destruction. {I}10_{/}Indeed, the love of 
money is the root of every evil. Because of this greed, some have 
wandered away from the faith, bringing on themselves afflictions 
of every kind. 
{R}_{I}11_{/}But you, man of God, shun all this. Strive to be holy and 
godly. Live in faith and love, with endurance and gentleness. 
{I}12_{/}Fight the good fight of faith and win everlasting life to 
which you were called when you made the good profession of faith 
in the presence of so many witnesses.
[=]_{R}_{I}13_{/}Now, in the presence of God who gives life to all 
things, and of Christ Jesus who gave the good testimony before 
Pontius Pilate, {R}_{I}14_{/}I command you to keep the commandment. Keep 
yourself pure and blameless until the glorious coming of Christ 
Jesus, our Lord, [=]_{R}_{I}15_{/}which God will bring about at the 
proper time, he, the magnificent sovereign, King of kings and Lord 
of lords. [=]_{I}16_{/}To him, alone immortal, who lives in 
unapproachable light and whom no one has ever seen or can see, to 
him be honor and power for ever and ever. Amen!
[=]_{R}_{I}17_{/}Command the rich of this world not to be arrogant or to 
put their trust in the uncertainty of wealth. Let them rather 
trust in God who generously gives us all we need for our 
happiness. [=]_{I}18_{/}Let them do good, be rich in{I}_{/}good deeds and 
be generous; let them share with others. {I}19_{/}In this way, they 
shall heap up a sound capital for the future and gain true life.
{I}20_{/}Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you; avoid useless 
and profane words, as well as discussions arising from false 
knowledge. [=]_{R}_{I}21_{/}Some have lost the faith in accepting such 
knowledge.
The grace of God be with you all.

