1 Timothy

 

1   Paulus, an ambassador of Yeshua the Anointed according to the command of God our saviour, and of the lord Yeshua the Anointed, our expectation.

   To Timotheos, my legitimate child in the faith.

   Grace, mercy, peace, from God our father and from Anointed Yeshua our lord.

   Just as I entreated you when going to Macedonia - remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct some not to teach differently, nor to pay attention to stories and to endless genealogies which give rise to meaningless questions, rather than the stewardship of God in faith. But the fulfilment of the command is love, from a clean heart, and from a good conscience, and from a genuine faith, from which some, having missed the mark, have turned aside to idle talk, wanting to be teachers of the law, not thinking through either the things they say, or concerning anything which they are asserting.

   But we know that the law is good, if anyone uses it as intended - knowing this, that the law wasn’t laid down for the righteous, but for the lawless, and the insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, and for murderers, for fornicators, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is anything else which is opposing sound teaching, according to the good news of the glory of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

   And I thank Anointed Yeshua our lord, who empowers me, that he considered me trustworthy, placing me into service, me, who was formerly a speaker of evil, and a persecutor, and an insolent person. But I was shown mercy because, being ignorant, I acted in unbelief. And the grace of our lord abounded exceedingly, with the faith and love that are in Anointed Yeshua.

   This saying is trustworthy, and worthy of all acceptance, “Anointed Yeshua came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” But because of this I was shown mercy, so that in me, the foremost, Yeshua the Anointed might display all kinds of patience, as an illustration to those who are about to trust in him, resulting in everlasting life. But to the king of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only wise god, are honour and glory, to the ages of the ages.

   Amen^a.

   I am committing this command to you my child, Timotheos, according to the prophecies which were made about you before, that in them you wage war in the good war, having faith and a good conscience, which some have pushed away - and have been shipwrecked concerning the faith, including Hymeneus and Alexandros, whom I handed over to Satan^b, so that they might be taught not to speak evil.

2   I urge then, above all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made on behalf of all people, and for kings, and for all those in authority, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet^a life, in all devoutness and dignity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour, who wants all people to be saved, and to come into a recognition of the truth. For there is one god, and one mediator between God and people, the person Anointed Yeshua, who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all, the testimony in its own time, because of which I was placed as a proclaimer and an ambassador, (I’m speaking the truth in the Anointed, I’m not lying), a teacher of nations, in faith and truth.

   So then, I intend the men in every place to pray, lifting up hallowed hands, without wrath and arguing. Similarly, the women also, to adorn themselves in moderate attire, with modesty and sensibility, not with braids, or gold, or pearls, or expensive garments, but with good works, which is fitting for women proclaiming service to God.

   Let a woman learn in quietness, and all submission. I don’t permit a woman to teach, or to be domineering over a man, but to be in quietness, for Adam was formed first, and then Eve. And Adam wasn’t tricked, but the woman, when she had been tricked became in transgression. But she will be saved through childbearing, if she remains in faith, and love, and sanctification with sensibility.

3   This is a trustworthy saying, “If anyone reaches for the position of watchman, they desire a good work.” So then, a watchman must be above reproach, the husband of one woman, sober, sensible, well behaved, hospitable, good at teaching, not given to wine, not a brawler, not greedy for gain, but fair, not contentious, not a lover of money^a, leading his own house well, having children in submission with all dignity. (For if anyone doesn’t know how to lead their own house, how will they take care of an assembly of God?) Not newly planted, so they don’t become conceited^b and fall into the condemnation of Diabolos^c. And they must also have a good testimony from the outside, so they don’t fall into reproach and the trap of Diabolos^b.

   Servants similarly, solemn, not double talkers, not giving themselves to much wine, not greedy for gain, having the secret of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them be discerned first, and then let them serve, if they are without reproach. Their wives similarly, solemn, not slanderers, sober, trustworthy in everything. Let servants be husbands of one woman, leading their children and their own homes well. For those who serve well are procuring a good step for themselves, and much boldness in faith, which is in Anointed Yeshua.

   I am writing these things to you, expecting to come to you soon, but so that if I am delayed, you may know how you must dwell in the household of God, which is the assembly of the living God, a pillar and foundation of the truth. And we all agree, the secret of devoutness is great - God was manifested in flesh, was declared righteous in spirit, appeared to messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was trusted in the world, and was taken up in glory.

4   But the spirit specifically says, that in the later times some will withdraw from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and to the teachings of demons, having their own conscience seared by hypocrisy and lying, forbidding people to marry, abstaining from foods which God created to be partaken with thankfulness by the faithful and those who recognise the truth. (Because every creature of God is good, and nothing is rubbish if it is received with thankfulness, for it becomes holy through the message of God, and intercession).

   By laying out these things to the brothers you will be a good servant of Yeshua the Anointed, nurtured in those messages of the faith and the good teaching which you have followed closely. But have nothing to do with the profane, or with old women’s stories. And exercise yourself resulting in devoutness. For physical exercise is slightly beneficial, but devoutness is entirely beneficial, having a promise of life, both now and the one which is coming soon. This is a trustworthy saying and deserves complete acceptance, for which we are labouring and being reproached, because we have an expectation in the living God who is saviour of all people, especially the faithful.

   Instruct and teach these things. Don’t let anybody despise your youth, but become a model for the faithful, in message, in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Until I come, pay attention to the reading, to the exhortation, to the teaching. Don’t neglect the endowment^a that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands of the eldership. Give attention to these things, so that your progress might be apparent to all. Look after yourself and your teaching. Continue in them, for by doing this you will save yourself and those who hear you.

5   Don’t chastise an elderly man, but entreat him like a father; younger men like brothers; elderly women like mothers; younger women like sisters in all purity.

   Hold widows who are really widows in honour. But if any widow has children, or descendants, let them first learn to be devout to their own household, and to give back a repayment to their ancestors, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God. The one who is a real widow, and has been left alone, has put her expectation in God, and continues the petitions and prayers night and day. But the one who lives for pleasure has died, even though she lives.

   Instruct these things, so that they may be beyond reproach. And if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially those of their own household, they have disowned the faith and are worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list if she isn’t under sixty years old, and she only became the wife of one man, being testified to for her good works, (if she raised children, if she is hospitable, if she washes the feet of the holy, if she helps those who are pressured, if she follows closely after every good work).

   But decline younger widows, for when they desire pleasure more than the Anointed, they will want to remarry, bringing condemnation because they have set aside their first faith. And at the same time, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house. And not only idle, but also babblers and busybodies, saying things they should not.

   I intend the younger ones to marry, to have children, to manage the home, not giving any opportunity for those who oppose to criticise^a grace. For already some have been turned aside after Satan^b. If any faithful man or woman has widows, let them provide for them and not let the assembly be burdened so it can provide for the real widows.

   Let those elders who have led well be considered worthy of being paid double honour, especially those who labour in the message and in teaching. For the writing says, “Don’t muzzle an ox which is threshing grain.” and “The worker is worthy of his reward.” Don’t concur with an accusation against an elder, except if there are more than two or three witnesses. Expose those who sin in front of everyone, so that the rest will have fear.

   I am earnestly pleading in the sight of God, and the lord Yeshua the Anointed, and the selected messengers, that you will guard these things without prejudging, not doing anything out of partiality. Don’t place hands on anyone quickly. Don’t share in someone else’s sins. Keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine, because of your stomach and your frequent illness.

   The sins of some people are obvious beforehand, going ahead of them into judgement, but some follow closely behind. Similarly too, good works are obvious beforehand, and those that are otherwise aren’t able to be hidden.

6   Let whoever is under the yoke of slavery consider their owners worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching will not be spoken evil of. And let those who have believing owners not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve as slaves because those who are receiving the act of kindness are believers and beloved.

   Teach and entreat these things. If anyone teaches differently and doesn’t agree with sound messages, (those of our lord Yeshua the Anointed), and to the teaching of devoutness, then he is conceited^a, not understanding anything, but has an unhealthy interest in meaningless questions and wars of words, which result in envy, strife, speaking evil, wicked suspicions, and violent contentions between people of minds which have been corrupted, having been robbed of the truth, presuming that devoutness is the means of gain. Stay away from such people.

   But devoutness with contentment is a means of great gain. For we carried nothing into the world, and it is evident that we are also not able to carry anything out. But we will be satisfied with having sustenance and shelter. But those intending to be rich fall into a trial and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires which sink those people into complete ruin and destruction. For the love of money^b, (which reaching for, some have been led astray from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains), is the root of all evil things.

   But you, honourable person of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, devoutness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Contend the good contest of the faith. Lay hold of the everlasting life, into which you were called, and you professed the good profession in front of many witnesses. I instruct you, in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and of Anointed Yeshua, who testified the good profession before Pontius Pilate, to keep the command, spotless, above reproach, until the appearance of our lord Yeshua the Anointed, which the blessed and only ruler, the king of those who reign, and the lord of those who are lords, will reveal in his own time. Who alone has immortality, making his home in unapproachable light, whom no person has either seen nor is able to see, to whom are honour and everlasting might.

   Amen^c.

   Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant, nor to put their expectation in uncertain riches, but in the living God, (who richly provides us everything for our enjoyment), to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, sharing in common, storing up a good foundation for themselves for the time which is about to come, so that they may lay hold of the everlasting life.

   Honourable Timotheos, guard that which has been entrusted, turning aside from profane idle talk, and contradictions which are falsely called knowledge, which some have proclaimed, and in regard to the faith have missed the mark.

   Grace is with you.

   Amen^c.