1 Timothy 1-6

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.

4 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 by those who 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 in the words of faith and of good doctrine unto which thou hast attained.

⁷ But reject 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 acceptance.

¹⁰ For therefor we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who 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 manner of living, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

¹³ Until 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 hands by 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 those who hear thee.

5 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren,

² the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, in all purity.

³ Honor widows who are truly widows.

⁴ But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety at home and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God.

⁵ Now she that is indeed a widow, 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 charge them, that they may be blameless.

⁸ But if any provide not for his own, and especially 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 three score years old, having been the wife of one man,

¹⁰ well reported of for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has 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 besides 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 It is my will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

¹⁵ For some have already turned aside after Satan.

¹⁶ If any man or woman who believeth have widows, let them relieve them and let not the church be burdened, that it may assist those who are widows indeed.

¹⁷ Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine.

¹⁸ For the Scripture saith, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.”

¹⁹ Against an elder receive not an accusation, except before two or three witnesses.

²⁰ Those who 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 hastily 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 thy frequent infirmities.

²⁴ Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going on to judgment; and in some men they follow after.

²⁵ Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, but they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.

² And those who have believing masters must 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 over words, from which cometh envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions,

⁵ perverse disputings by 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 those who would 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; and while some have coveted after it, 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 In the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, I give thee this charge:

¹⁴ that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁵ which He in His times shall show — He 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 honor and power everlasting. Amen.

¹⁷ Charge those who are rich in this world that they be not haughty, 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.