Instructions in Doctrine and Living

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)according to the commandment of ^(D)God our Savior, and of ^(E)Christ Jesus, our ^(F)hope,

² To ^(G)Timothy, ^(H)my genuine child in the faith: ^(I)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^(J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

³ As I exhorted you when going to ^(K)Macedonia, ^[a]remain on at ^(L)Ephesus so that you may command certain ones not to ^(M)teach a different doctrine, ⁴ nor to ^[b]pay attention to ^(N)myths and endless ^(O)genealogies, which give rise to mere ^(P)speculation rather than furthering ^(Q)the stewardship from God which is by faith. ⁵ But the goal of our ^(R)command is love ^(S)from a pure heart and a ^(T)good conscience and an unhypocritical ^(U)faith. ⁶ For some, straying from these things, have turned aside to ^(V)fruitless discussion, ^7 (W)wanting to be ^(X)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

⁸ But we know that ^(Y)the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹ knowing this, that ^(Z)law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and ^(AA)rebellious, for the ^(AB)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and ^(AC)godless, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰ for ^(AD)sexually immoral persons, for ^(AE)homosexuals, for ^(AF)kidnappers, for ^(AG)liars, for ^(AH)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to ^(AI)sound teaching, ¹¹ according to ^(AJ)the gospel of the glory of ^(AK)the blessed God, with which I have been ^(AL)entrusted.

¹² I am grateful to ^(AM)Christ Jesus our Lord, who has ^(AN)strengthened me, because He regarded me faithful, ^(AO)putting me into service, ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a ^(AP)persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was ^(AQ)shown mercy because ^(AR)I acted ignorantly in unbelief; ¹⁴ and the ^(AS)grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the ^(AT)faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ^15 (AU)It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that ^(AV)Christ Jesus came into the world to ^(AW)save sinners, among whom ^(AX)I am foremost. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I ^(AY)was shown mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Christ Jesus might ^(AZ)demonstrate all His patience as an example for those ^[c]who are going to believe upon Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the ^(BA)King of the ^[d]ages, ^(BB)immortal, ^(BC)invisible, the ^(BD)only God, ^(BE)be honor and glory ^[e]forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁸ This ^(BF)command I entrust to you, Timothy, ^(BG)my child, in accordance with the ^(BH)prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may ^(BI)fight the good fight, ¹⁹ keeping ^(BJ)faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to ^[f](BK)their faith. ^20 [g]Among these are ^(BL)Hymenaeus and ^(BM)Alexander, whom I have ^(BN)handed over to Satan, so that they will be ^(BO)taught not to blaspheme.

Overseers and Deacons

3 ^(A)It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the ^(B)office of ^[a]overseer, he desires a good work. ^2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, ^(D)the husband of one wife, ^(E)temperate, sensible, respectable, ^(F)hospitable, ^(G)able to teach, ^3 (H)not addicted to wine ^[c]or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, ^(I)free from the love of money; ^4 (J)leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to lead his own household, how will he take care of ^(K)the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become ^(L)conceited and fall into the ^(M)condemnation of the devil. ⁷ And he must ^(N)have a good reputation with ^(O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and ^(P)the snare of the devil.

^8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not ^[d]double-tongued, ^(R)not indulging in much wine, ^(S)not fond of dishonest gain, ^9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ^10 (U)And these men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. ^11 [e]Women must likewise be dignified, ^(V)not malicious gossips, but ^(W)temperate, faithful in all things. ^12 (X)Deacons must be ^(Y)husbands of only one wife, ^(Z)leading their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons ^(AA)obtain for themselves a ^[f]high standing and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, ¹⁵ but ^[g]in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how ^[h]one ought to conduct himself in ^(AB)the household of God, which is the ^(AC)church of ^(AD)the living God, the ^(AE)pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ And by common confession, great is ^(AF)the mystery of godliness: