THE BOOK OF FIRST
TIMOTHY
King James Version
1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ
by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which 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 to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which
minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 ¶ Now the end of the
commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of
faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved 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 unholy
and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind,
for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other
thing that 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, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into
the ministry;
13 Who was before 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 exceeding
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 ¶ This charge I commit unto
thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that
thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away
concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto
Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all
men;
2 For kings, and
for all that 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 Saviour;
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 Whereunto 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 I will
therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and
doubting.
9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which
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 sobriety.
1 ¶ This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of
a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then
must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour,
given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to
wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not
covetous;
4 One that ruleth
well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man
know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?)
6 Not a novice,
lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without;
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 ¶ Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the
mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these
also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found
blameless.
11 Even so must
their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the
deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses
well.
13 For they that
have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and
great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 ¶ These things write I
unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry
long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest 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 without
controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on
in the world, received up into glory.
1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies
in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to
marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be
received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature
of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is
sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 ¶ If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these
things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the
words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself
rather unto godliness.
8 For bodily
exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9 This is a
faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore
we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is
the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11 These things
command and teach.
12 Let no man
despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come,
give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which
was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15 Meditate upon
these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to
all.
16 Take heed unto
thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt
both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1 ¶ Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and
the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women
as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3 ¶ Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any
widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and
to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is
a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications
and prayers night and day.
6 But she that
liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 But if any
provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let not a widow
be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of
one man,
10 Well reported
of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged
strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted,
if she have diligently followed every good work.
11 But the
younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ,
they will marry;
12 Having
damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13 And withal
they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle,
but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 I will therefore that the younger women
marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to
speak reproachfully.
15 For some are
already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any man or
woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church
be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17 ¶ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of
double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the
scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And,
The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Against an
elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin
rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring
one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Lay hands
suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no
longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often
infirmities.
24 Some men's
sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow
after.
25 Likewise also
the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise
cannot be hid.
1 ¶ Let as many servants as are under the yoke count
their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine
be not blasphemed.
2 And they that
have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren;
but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of
the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man
teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud,
knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof
cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that
will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love
of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have
erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O
man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good
fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and
hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 ¶ I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate
witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his
times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man
hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge them
that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 That they do
good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate;
19 Laying up in
store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may
lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy,
keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings,
and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 Which some professing have erred concerning
the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. <<The first to Timothy was written
from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.>>