1 Timothy 1-3

21st Century King James Version

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope,

² Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

³ As I besought thee when I went into Macedonia to abide still at Ephesus, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

⁴ neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which promote questions rather than godly edifying in the faith, so do!

⁵ Now the aim of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, with a good conscience and with faith unfeigned,

⁶ from which some have swerved and have turned aside unto vain jangling,

⁷ desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm.

⁸ But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully,

⁹ knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

¹⁰ for whoremongers, for those who defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine

¹¹ according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

¹² And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry—

¹³ I, who was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;

¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

¹⁶ Nonetheless, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering as a pattern for those who should hereafter believe in Him to life everlasting.

¹⁷ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸ This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before concerning thee, that thou by them mightest wage a good warfare,

¹⁹ holding faith and a good conscience which some, having put aside, have suffered shipwreck concerning faith.

²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

² for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

⁴ who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

⁷ for which I am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ and lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

⁸ It is my will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.

⁹ In like manner also, that women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobermindedness, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array,

¹⁰ but, as becometh women professing godliness, with good works.

¹¹ Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

¹² But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

¹³ For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived; but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression.

¹⁵ Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobermindedness.

3 This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of bishop, he desireth a good work.

² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt at teaching;

³ not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

⁴ one who ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity.

⁵ (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

⁶ He must not be a novice in the faith, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

⁷ Moreover he must have a good reputation with those who are outsiders, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

⁸ Likewise must the deacons be serious, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for filthy lucre,

⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

¹⁰ And let these also first be proved; then, being found blameless, let them make use of the office of a deacon.

¹¹ So also must their wives be serious, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

¹² Let each deacon be the husband of one wife, ruling his children and his own house well.

¹³ For those who have ministered the office of deacon well purchase for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ These things I write unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly,

¹⁵ but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

¹⁶ And beyond controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.