1 Timothy 1-3

New American Standard Bible

Correcting False Teaching

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)according to the commandment of ^(D)God our Savior, and of ^(E)Christ Jesus, who is our ^(F)hope,

² To ^(G)Timothy, ^(H)my true ^[a]son in the faith: ^(I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^(J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ Just as I urged you ^[b]upon my departure for ^(K)Macedonia, to remain on at ^(L)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to ^(M)teach strange doctrines, ⁴ nor to ^[c]pay attention to ^(N)myths and endless ^(O)genealogies, which give rise to useless ^(P)speculation rather than ^(Q)advance ^[d]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. ⁵ But the goal of our ^[e](R)instruction is love ^(S)from a pure heart, from a ^(T)good conscience, and from a sincere ^(U)faith. ⁶ Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to ^(V)fruitless discussion, ^7 (W)wanting to be ^(X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ But we know that ^(Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ realizing the fact that ^(Z)law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and ^(AA)rebellious, for the ^(AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and ^(AC)worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for the ^[f](AD)sexually immoral, ^(AE)homosexuals, ^[g](AF)slave traders, ^(AG)liars, ^(AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(AI)sound teaching, ¹¹ according to ^(AJ)the glorious gospel of ^(AK)the blessed God, with which I have been ^(AL)entrusted.

Paul’s Testimony

¹² I thank ^(AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has ^(AN)strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, ^(AO)putting me into service, ¹³ even though I was previously a blasphemer and a ^(AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was ^(AQ)shown mercy because ^(AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; ¹⁴ and the ^(AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the ^(AT)faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. ^15 (AU)It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that ^(AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to ^(AW)save sinners, among whom ^(AX)I am foremost. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I ^(AY)found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might ^(AZ)demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those ^[h]who would believe in Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the ^(BA)King ^[i]eternal, ^(BB)immortal, ^(BC)invisible, the ^(BD)only God, ^(BE)be honor and glory ^[j]forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸ This ^(BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, ^(BG)my ^[k]son, in accordance with the ^(BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you ^(BI)fight the good fight, ¹⁹ keeping ^(BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to ^[l](BK)their faith. ^20 [m]Among these are ^(BL)Hymenaeus and ^(BM)Alexander, whom I have ^(BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be ^(BO)taught not to blaspheme.

A Call to Prayer

2 First of all, then, I urge that ^(BP)requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, ^2 (BQ)for kings and all who are in ^[n]authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and ^[o]dignity. ³ This is good and acceptable in the sight of ^(BR)God our Savior, ^4 (BS)who wants all people to be ^(BT)saved and to ^(BU)come to the ^[p]knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is ^(BV)one God, and ^(BW)one mediator also between God and mankind, the ^(BX)man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who ^(BY)gave Himself as a ransom for all, the ^(BZ)testimony ^[q]given at ^[r](CA)the proper time. ^7 (CB)For this I was appointed as a ^[s]preacher and ^(CC)an apostle (^(CD)I am telling the truth, I am not lying), as a teacher of ^(CE)the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Instructions for Believers

⁸ Therefore ^(CF)I want the men ^(CG)in every place to pray, ^(CH)lifting up ^(CI)holy hands, without anger and dispute. ⁹ Likewise, I want ^(CJ)women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, ^[t]modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel, ¹⁰ but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. ^11 (CK)A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. ^12 (CL)But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ^13 (CM)For it was Adam who was first ^[u]created, and then Eve. ¹⁴ And it was not Adam who was deceived, but ^(CN)the woman was ^[v]deceived and ^[w]became a wrongdoer. ¹⁵ But ^[x]women will be ^[y]preserved through ^[z]childbirth—if they continue in ^(CO)faith, love, and sanctity, with moderation.

Overseers and Deacons

3 ^(CP)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the ^(CQ)office of ^[aa]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. ^2 [ab](CR)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(CS)the husband of one wife, ^[ac](CT)temperate, self-controlled, respectable, ^(CU)hospitable, ^(CV)skillful in teaching, ^3 (CW)not overindulging in wine, not ^[ad]a bully, but gentle, not contentious, ^(CX)free from the love of money. ⁴ He must be one who ^(CY)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of ^(CZ)the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(DA)conceited and fall into ^(DB)condemnation ^[ae]incurred by the devil. ⁷ And he must ^(DC)have a good reputation with ^(DD)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into ^[af]disgrace and ^(DE)the snare of the devil.

^8 (DF)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not ^[ag]insincere, ^(DG)not prone to drink much wine, ^(DH)not greedy for money, ^9 (DI)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ^10 (DJ)These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ^11 [ah]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(DK)not malicious gossips, but ^[ai](DL)temperate, faithful in all things. ^12 (DM)Deacons must be ^(DN)husbands of one wife, and ^[aj](DO)good managers of their children and their own households. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(DP)obtain for themselves a ^[ak]high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; ¹⁵ but ^[al]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one should act in ^(DQ)the household of God, which is the ^(DR)church of ^(DS)the living God, the ^(DT)pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond question, great is ^(DU)the mystery of godliness: