1 Timothy 5:11 - 2 Timothy 4:14

English Standard Version

¹¹ But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when ^(A)their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry ¹² and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. ¹³ Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also ^(B)gossips and ^(C)busybodies, saying what they should not. ¹⁴ So I would have ^(D)younger widows marry, bear children, ^(E)manage their households, and ^(F)give the adversary no occasion for slander. ^15 (G)For some have already strayed after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those ^(H)who are truly widows.

¹⁷ Let the elders ^(I)who rule well be considered worthy of ^(J)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, ^(K)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^(L)“The laborer deserves his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not admit a charge against an elder except ^(M)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁰ As for those who persist in sin, ^(N)rebuke them in the presence of all, ^(O)so that the rest may stand in fear. ²¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels ^(P)I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, ^(Q)doing nothing from partiality. ^22 (R)Do not be hasty in the ^(S)laying on of hands, nor ^(T)take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. ²³ (No longer drink only water, but ^(U)use a little wine ^(V)for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) ²⁴ The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. ²⁵ So also good works are conspicuous, and ^(W)even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

6 ^(X)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants^[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, ^(Y)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. ² Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^(Z)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

^(AA)Teach and urge these things. ³ If anyone ^(AB)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(AC)the sound^[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(AD)that accords with godliness, ^4 (AE)he is puffed up with conceit and ^(AF)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^(AG)controversy and for ^(AH)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction among people ^(AI)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^(AJ)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶ But ^(AK)godliness ^(AL)with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for ^(AM)we brought nothing into the world, and^[c] we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But ^(AN)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But ^(AO)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(AP)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(AQ)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(AR)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But as for you, ^(AS)O man of God, ^(AT)flee these things. ^(AU)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ^12 (AV)Fight the good fight of the faith. ^(AW)Take hold of the eternal life ^(AX)to which you were called and about which you made ^(AY)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ^13 (AZ)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, ^(BA)who in his testimony before^[d] Pontius Pilate made ^(BB)the good confession, ¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until ^(BC)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display ^(BD)at the proper time—he who is ^(BE)the blessed and only Sovereign, ^(BF)the King of kings and Lord of lords, ^16 (BG)who alone has immortality, ^(BH)who dwells in ^(BI)unapproachable light, ^(BJ)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

¹⁷ As for the rich in ^(BK)this present age, charge them ^(BL)not to be haughty, nor ^(BM)to set their hopes on ^(BN)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(BO)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, ^(BP)to be rich in good works, to be generous and ^(BQ)ready to share, ¹⁹ thus ^(BR)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(BS)take hold of ^(BT)that which is truly life.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. ^(BU)Avoid the ^(BV)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” ²¹ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

^(BW)Grace be with you.^[e]

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(BX)an apostle of Christ Jesus ^(BY)by the will of God according to ^(BZ)the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, ^(CA)my beloved child:

^(CB)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You

^3 (CC)I thank God ^(CD)whom I serve, as did my ancestors, ^(CE)with a clear conscience, as I remember you ^(CF)constantly in my prayers night and day. ^4 (CG)As I remember your tears, ^(CH)I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of ^(CI)your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and ^(CJ)your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶ For this reason I remind you ^(CK)to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷ for God gave us ^(CL)a spirit not of fear but ^(CM)of power and love and self-control.

⁸ Therefore ^(CN)do not be ashamed of ^(CO)the testimony about our Lord, nor of ^(CP)me his prisoner, but ^(CQ)share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ^9 (CR)who saved us and ^(CS)called us to^[f] a holy calling, ^(CT)not because of our works but because of ^(CU)his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus ^(CV)before the ages began,^{[g] 10} and which now has ^(CW)been manifested through ^(CX)the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, ^(CY)who abolished death and ^(CZ)brought life and ^(DA)immortality to light through the gospel, ^11 (DB)for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ^12 (DC)which is why I suffer as I do. But ^(DD)I am not ashamed, for ^(DE)I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until ^(DF)that day ^(DG)what has been entrusted to me.^{[h] 13 (DH)}Follow ^(DI)the pattern of ^(DJ)the sound^[i] words ^(DK)that you have heard from me, in ^(DL)the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ By the Holy Spirit ^(DM)who dwells within us, guard ^(DN)the good deposit entrusted to you.

¹⁵ You are aware that ^(DO)all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to ^(DP)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often ^(DQ)refreshed me and was not ashamed of ^(DR)my chains, ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome ^(DS)he searched for me earnestly and found me— ¹⁸ may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on ^(DT)that day!—and you well know all the service he ^(DU)rendered at Ephesus.

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2 You then, ^(DV)my child, ^(DW)be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ² and ^(DX)what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses ^(DY)entrust to faithful men,^{[j] (DZ)}who will be able to teach others also. ^3 (EA)Share in suffering as ^(EB)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier ^(EC)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ^5 (ED)An athlete is not ^(EE)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is ^(EF)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, ^(EG)risen from the dead, the ^(EH)offspring of David, ^(EI)as preached in my gospel, ^9 (EJ)for which I am suffering, ^(EK)bound with chains as a criminal. But ^(EL)the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore ^(EM)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^(EN)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^(EO)eternal glory. ¹¹ The saying is ^(EP)trustworthy, for:

for ^(EW)he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and ^(EX)charge them before God^{[k] (EY)}not to quarrel about words, ^(EZ)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,^[l] a worker ^(FA)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(FB)avoid ^(FC)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are ^(FD)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have swerved from the truth, ^(FE)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹ But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ^(FF)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ^(FG)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ Now in ^(FH)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, ^(FI)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, ^(FJ)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,^[m] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^(FK)ready for every good work.

²² So ^(FL)flee ^(FM)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with ^(FN)those who call on the Lord ^(FO)from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^(FP)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And ^(FQ)the Lord's servant^[n] must not be quarrelsome but ^(FR)kind to everyone, ^(FS)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents ^(FT)with gentleness. God ^(FU)may perhaps grant them repentance ^(FV)leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(FW)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that ^(FX)in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be ^(FY)lovers of self, ^(FZ)lovers of money, ^(GA)proud, ^(GB)arrogant, abusive, ^(GC)disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ^3 (GD)heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, ^(GE)not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, ^(GF)swollen with conceit, ^(GG)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but ^(GH)denying its power. ^(GI)Avoid such people. ⁶ For among them are ^(GJ)those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, ⁷ always learning and never able to ^(GK)arrive at a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as ^(GL)Jannes and Jambres ^(GM)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(GN)men corrupted in mind and ^(GO)disqualified regarding the faith. ⁹ But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, ^(GP)as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

^10 (GQ)You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, ¹¹ my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me ^(GR)at Antioch, ^(GS)at Iconium, and ^(GT)at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet ^(GU)from them all ^(GV)the Lord rescued me. ¹² Indeed, all who desire to ^(GW)live a godly life in Christ Jesus ^(GX)will be persecuted, ¹³ while ^(GY)evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and ^(GZ)being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, ^(HA)continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom^[o] you learned it ¹⁵ and how ^(HB)from childhood you have been acquainted with ^(HC)the sacred writings, ^(HD)which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ^16 (HE)All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that ^(HF)the man of God^[p] may be complete, ^(HG)equipped ^(HH)for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(HI)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ^(HJ)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by ^(HK)his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(HL)reprove, rebuke, and ^(HM)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ^3 (HN)For the time is coming when people will not endure ^(HO)sound^[q] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and ^(HP)will turn away from listening to the truth and ^(HQ)wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, ^(HR)always be sober-minded, ^(HS)endure suffering, do the work of ^(HT)an evangelist, ^(HU)fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For ^(HV)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my ^(HW)departure has come. ^7 (HX)I have fought the good fight, ^(HY)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is ^(HZ)laid up for me ^(IA)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^(IB)the righteous judge, will award to me on ^(IC)that day, and not only to me but also to all ^(ID)who have loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

^9 (IE)Do your best to come to me soon. ¹⁰ For ^(IF)Demas, ^(IG)in love with ^(IH)this present world, ^(II)has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,^{[r] (IJ)}Titus to Dalmatia. ^11 (IK)Luke alone is with me. Get ^(IL)Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. ^12 (IM)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. ^14 (IN)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(IO)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.