New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures Reference Bible

1 Paul, an apostle+ of Christ Jesus under command of God+ our Savior*+ and of Christ Jesus, our hope,+ 2 to Timothy,*+ a genuine child+ in the faith:
     May there be undeserved kindness, mercy, peace from God [the] Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.+

3 Just as I encouraged you to stay in Ephesus when I was about to go my way into Macedonia,+ so I do now, that you might command+ certain ones not to teach different doctrine,+ 4 nor to pay attention to false stories+ and to genealogies, which end up in nothing,+ but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing* of anything by God in connection with faith. 5 Really the objective* of this mandate is love+ out of a clean heart+ and out of a good conscience+ and out of faith without hypocrisy.+ 6 By deviating from these things certain ones have been turned aside+ into idle talk,+ 7 wanting to be teachers+ of law,+ but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions.

8 Now we know that the Law is fine+ provided one handles it lawfully+ 9 in the knowledge of this fact, that law is promulgated, not for a righteous man, but for persons lawless+ and unruly,+ ungodly and sinners, lacking loving-kindness,+ and profane, murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, manslayers, 10 fornicators,+ men who lie with males, kidnappers, liars, false swearers,+ and whatever other thing is in opposition+ to the healthful teaching+ 11 according to the glorious good news of the happy+ God, with which I was entrusted.+

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who imparted power to me, because he considered me faithful+ by assigning me to a ministry,+ 13 although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor+ and an insolent+ man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy,+ because I was ignorant+ and acted with a lack of faith. 14 But the undeserved kindness of our Lord abounded exceedingly+ along with faith and love that is in connection with Christ Jesus.+ 15 Faithful and deserving of full acceptance is the saying+ that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.+ Of these I am foremost.+ 16 Nevertheless, the reason why I was shown mercy+ was that by means of me as the foremost case Christ Jesus might demonstrate all his long-suffering for a sample of those who are going to rest their faith+ on him for everlasting life.+

17 Now to the King of eternity,*+ incorruptible,+ invisible,+ [the] only God,+ be honor and glory forever and ever.+ Amen.

18 This mandate+ I commit to you, child, Timothy, in accord with the predictions+ that led directly on to you, that by these you may go on waging the fine warfare;+ 19 holding faith and a good conscience,+ which some have thrust aside+ and have experienced shipwreck concerning [their] faith.+ 20 Hymenaeus+ and Alexander+ belong to these, and I have handed them over to Satan+ that they may be taught by discipline* not to blaspheme.*+

2 I therefore exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers,+ intercessions, offerings of thanks, be made concerning* all sorts of men,+ 2 concerning kings+ and all those who are in high station;+ in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion* and seriousness.+ 3 This is fine and acceptable+ in the sight of our Savior, God,+ 4 whose will is that all sorts of men+ should be saved+ and come to an accurate knowledge+ of truth.+ 5 For there is one God,+ and one mediator+ between God+ and men,+ a man, Christ Jesus,+ John14:6 6 who gave himself a corresponding ransom* for all*+—[this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times. 7 For the purpose of this witness+ I was appointed a preacher and an apostle+—I am telling the truth,+ I am not lying—a teacher of nations+ in the matter of faith+ and truth.

8 Therefore I desire that in every place the men carry on prayer, lifting up loyal hands,+ apart from wrath+ and debates.+ 9 Likewise I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty+ and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb,+ 10 but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God,*+ namely, through good works.+

11 Let a woman learn in silence* with full submissiveness.+ 12 I do not permit a woman to teach,+ or to exercise authority over a man,+ but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.+ 14 Also, Adam was not deceived,+ but the woman was thoroughly deceived+ and came to be in transgression.+ 15 However, she will be kept safe* through childbearing,+ provided they continue in faith and love and sanctification along with soundness of mind.+

3 That statement is faithful.+
     If any man is reaching out for an office of overseer,*+ he is desirous of a fine work. 2 The overseer* should therefore be irreprehensible,+ a husband of one wife, moderate+ in habits,* sound in mind,+ orderly,*+ hospitable,*+ qualified to teach,+ 3 not a drunken brawler,*+ not a smiter,*+ but reasonable,*+ not belligerent,*+ not a lover of money,+ 4 a man presiding over* his own household in a fine manner,+ having children in subjection with all seriousness;+ 5 (if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?) 6 not a newly converted man,*+ for fear that he might get puffed up [with pride]+ and fall into the judgment passed upon the Devil.+ 7 Moreover, he should also have a fine testimony* from people on the outside,+ in order that he might not fall into reproach and a snare+ of the Devil.

8 Ministerial servants*+ should likewise be serious, not double-tongued,* not giving themselves to a lot of wine, not greedy of dishonest gain,+ 9 holding the sacred secret+ of the faith with a clean conscience.+
     10 Also, let these be tested+ as to fitness first, then let them serve as ministers, as they are free from accusation.+
     11 Women should likewise be serious, not slanderous,+ moderate+ in habits, faithful in all things.+    
     12 Let ministerial servants* be husbands of one wife,+ presiding in a fine manner over children and their own households.+ 13 For the men who minister in a fine manner are acquiring for themselves a fine standing+ and great freeness of speech*+ in the faith in connection with Christ Jesus.

14 I am writing you these things, though I am hoping to come to you shortly,+ 15 but in case I am delayed, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in God’s household,+ which is the congregation of [the] living God, a pillar and support+ of the truth. 16 Indeed, the sacred secret+ of this godly devotion* is admittedly great: ‘He was made manifest in flesh,+ was declared righteous in spirit,+ appeared to angels,+ was preached about among nations,+ was believed upon in [the] world,+ was received up in glory.’+

4 However, the inspired utterance* says definitely that in later periods of time+ some will fall away+ from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances*+ and teachings of demons,+ 2 by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies,+ marked in their conscience+ as with a branding iron; 3 forbidding to marry,+ commanding to abstain from foods+ which God created+ to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith+ and accurately know the truth. 4 The reason for this is that every creation of God is fine,+ and nothing is to be rejected+ if it is received with thanksgiving,+ 5 for it is sanctified* through God’s word and prayer over [it].

6 By giving these advices to the brothers you will be a fine minister of Christ Jesus, one nourished with the words of the faith and of the fine teaching+ which you have followed closely.+ 7 But turn down the false stories+ which violate what is holy and which old women tell. On the other hand, be training yourself with godly devotion* as your aim.+ 8 For bodily training* is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion*+ is beneficial for all things,+ as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.+ 9 Faithful and deserving of full acceptance is that statement.+ 10 For to this end we are working hard and exerting ourselves,+ because we have rested our hope+ on a living God, who is a Savior+ of all sorts of men,+ especially of faithful ones.+

11 Keep on giving these commands+ and teaching them.+ 12 Let no man ever look down on your youth.+ On the contrary, become an example+ to the faithful ones+ in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness.+ 13 While I am coming, continue applying yourself to public+ reading,+ to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not be neglecting the gift+ in you that was given you through a prediction+ and when the body of older men* laid their hands+ upon you. 15 Ponder over these things;+ be absorbed in them, that your advancement+ may be manifest to all [persons]. 16 Pay constant attention to yourself+ and to your teaching.+ Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.+

5 Do not severely criticize an older man.*+ To the contrary, entreat him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women+ as mothers, younger women as sisters+ with all chasteness.

3 Honor widows that are actually widows.+ 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let these learn first to practice godly devotion* in their own household+ and to keep paying a due compensation to their parents+ and grandparents, for this is acceptable in God’s sight.+ 5 Now the woman who is actually a widow and left destitute+ has put her hope in God+ and persists in supplications and prayers night and day.+ 6 But the one that goes in for sensual gratification+ is dead+ though she is living. 7 So keep on giving these commands,+ that they may be irreprehensible.+ 8 Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own,+ and especially for those who are members of his household,+ he has disowned+ the faith+ and is worse than a person without faith.*

9 Let a widow be put on the list who has become not less than sixty years old, a wife of one husband,+ 10 having a witness borne to her for fine works,+ if she reared children,+ if she entertained strangers,+ if she washed the feet of holy ones,+ if she relieved those in tribulation,+ if she diligently followed every good work.+

11 On the other hand, turn down younger widows, for when their sexual impulses have come between them and the Christ,+ they want to marry, 12 having a judgment because they have disregarded their first [expression of] faith.+ 13 At the same time they also learn to be unoccupied, gadding about to the houses; yes, not only unoccupied, but also gossipers and meddlers in other people’s affairs,+ talking of things they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire the younger widows to marry,+ to bear children,+ to manage a household, to give no inducement to the opposer to revile.+ 15 Already, in fact, some have been turned aside to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows,* let her relieve them,+ and let the congregation not be under the burden. Then it can relieve those who are actually widows.+

17 Let the older men* who preside+ in a fine way be reckoned worthy of double honor,+ especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.+ 18 For the scripture says: “You must not muzzle a bull when it threshes out the grain”;+ also: “The workman is worthy of his wages.”+ 19 Do not admit an accusation against an older man,* except only on the evidence of two or three witnesses.+ 20 Reprove+ before all onlookers persons who practice sin,+ that the rest also may have fear.+ 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus*+ and the chosen angels to keep these things without prejudgment, doing nothing according to a biased leaning.+

22 Never lay your hands+ hastily upon any man;+ neither be a sharer in the sins of others;+ preserve yourself chaste.+

23 Do not drink water any longer, but use a little wine+ for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.

24 The sins of some men are publicly manifest,+ leading directly to judgment, but as for other men [their sins] also become manifest later.+ 25 In the same way also the fine works are publicly manifest+ and those that are otherwise cannot be kept hid.+

6 Let as many as are slaves under a yoke keep on considering their owners worthy of full honor,+ that the name of God and the teaching may never be spoken of injuriously.+ 2 Moreover, let those having believing owners+ not look down on them,+ because they are brothers.+ On the contrary, let them the more readily be slaves, because those receiving the benefit of their good service* are believers and beloved.

Keep on teaching these things+ and giving these exhortations. 3 If any man teaches other doctrine+ and does not assent to healthful+ words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion,*+ 4 he is puffed up [with pride],+ not understanding anything,+ but being mentally+ diseased over questionings and debates about words.+ From these things spring envy,+ strife, abusive+ speeches, wicked suspicions, 5 violent disputes about trifles* on the part of men corrupted in mind+ and despoiled of the truth,+ thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.+ 6 To be sure, it is a means of great gain,+ [this] godly devotion*+ along with self-sufficiency.*+ 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out.+ 8 So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.+

9 However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation+ and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires,+ which plunge men into destruction and ruin.+ 10 For the love+ of money is a root+ of all sorts of injurious things,*+ and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.+

11 However, you, O man of God, flee from these things.+ But pursue righteousness, godly devotion,* faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper.+ 12 Fight the fine fight of the faith,*+ get a firm hold on the everlasting life for which you were called and you offered the fine public declaration+ in front of many witnesses.

13 In the sight of God, who preserves all things alive,* and of Christ Jesus,* who as a witness+ made the fine public declaration+ before Pontius Pilate,+ I give you orders+ 14 that you observe the commandment in a spotless and irreprehensible way until the manifestation+ of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 This [manifestation] the happy and only Potentate+ will show in its* own appointed times,+ [he] the King+ of those who rule as kings and Lord+ of those who rule as lords, 16 the one alone having immortality,*+ who dwells in unapproachable light,+ whom not one of men has seen or can see.+ To him be honor+ and might everlasting. Amen.

17 Give orders to those who are rich+ in the present system of things* not to be high-minded,*+ and to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches,+ but on God, who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment;+ 18 to work at good,+ to be rich in fine works,+ to be liberal, ready to share,+ 19 safely treasuring up+ for themselves a fine foundation+ for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life.+

20 O Timothy, guard what is laid up in trust with you,+ turning away from the empty speeches that violate what is holy and from the contradictions of the falsely called “knowledge.”+ 21 For making a show of such [knowledge] some have deviated from the faith.+

May the undeserved kindness be with YOU people.