THE FIRST EPISTLE

Of THE

APOSTLE PAUL,

TO

TIMOTHY.

I. PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the ap-

2 pointment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope; to Timothy, my genuine son by belief, be favour, mercy, peace from God our father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 As I entreated thee, when I was going to Macedonia, to continue at Ephesus ; that thou mightest charge certain per-

4 sons not to teach a different doctrine, nor pay attention to fa- bles and endless genealogies, which rather promote disputes

5 than the godly edification, which is by faith : Now the end of that charge is love, from a pure heart, and good conscience,

6 and an unfeigned belief; from which some having swerved,

7 have turned aside to vain discourse, desiring to be teachers of the law. not understanding what they say, nor about what

8 they are so positive. We know indeed that the law is good, if

9 one use it as a law, considering this, that law is not enacted for a righteous man, but for the lawless and refractory; for the impious and sinful; for the immoral and profane;

10 for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers; for homicides, fornicators, sodomites, enslavers of men, liars, perjured persons, and whatever else is contrary to the wholesome doc-

11 trine according to the glorious glad tidings of the blessed God

12 with which I have been intrusted, and am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord who qualified me ; for his counting me faith-

13 ful, putting into office me who was before a reviler, and a persecutor, and an outrageous offender: but I obtained mercy

14 because I acted ignorantly, in unbelief. And this favour of our Lord superabounded with faith and love which is by

15 Christ Jesus. This is a faithful word and worthy of all acceptation, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

16 of whom I am a chief; but I obtained mercy for this purpose, that Jesus Christ might display the utmost forbearance in me, a chief, for an example to them who should afterwards trust

17 in him for everlasting life. Now to the king of the ages—-the incorruptible, invisible, only wise God, be honour and glory, for the ages of the ages. Amen.

18 This charge I commit to thee, son Timothy, according to the preceding gifts of prophesying conferred on thee, that by them thou mayst carry on this good warfare, having faith

19 and a good conscience, which last some having discarded, they have, in respect to the faith, suffered shipwreck, of which number are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

II. I therefore exhort thee first of all, that supplications, pray-

2 ers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men—for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet

3 and peaceable life with all piety and honesty; for this is good

4 and acceptable in the sight of God our saviour, who willeth all men to be saved, and to come to an acknowledgment of truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and

6 men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for

7 all—as the testimony for his own times; for which I have been appointed a herald and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ,

8 I do not lie) a teacher of nations in belief and truth. I therefore give it in charge that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and surmise: in like manner al-

9 so, that the women adorn themselves in comely apparel, with bashful modesty—not with curls, or gold, or pearls, or

10 costly array; but with good works, as it becometh women who

11 profess a reverence for God. Let women learn in quietness

12 with all submission. For I do not allow a woman to teach or

13 to usurp authority over man, but to be in quietness. For 14 Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceiv-

15 ed: but the woman being deceived was in transgression, but to be saved by the child birth, if they continue in faith and

HI. love and sanctification, with a sober mind. This is a faithful word.

If any one desireth the office of an overseer, he desireth a

2 good work. The overseer therefore ought to be blameless, the

3 husband of one wife, sober, discreet, well behaved, hospitable, qualified to teach, not addicted to wine, no striker, not attach-

4 edto sordid gain, but of a gentle disposition, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, one who presideth well over his own household, having his children in due subordination, with all

5 gravity, (for if one doth not know how to preside over his

6 own household, how can he take care of the congregation of God;) not one newly converted, lest, being lifted up with pride,

7 he fall into the condemnation of the devil. He ought also to have a good character from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Almoners in like manner should be grave, not double-

9 tongued, not addicted to much wine, not attached to sordid

10 gain, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience; and let even such be first tried, then, if found blameless, let

11 them exercise the office of almoners.* Women in like man-

12 ner should be grave, not addicted to slander, sober, faithful in all things. Let almoners be the husbands of one wife, presiding well over their children and their own households; for they

13 who discharge the office of an almoner well, acquire for themselves an honourable rank, and much freedom of speech in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

14 These things I write to thee, hoping to come to thee in a

15 little time; but if I be delayed, that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in the house of God, that is in the congregation of the living God.

16 The pillar and firm support of the truth is (and unques-

tionably great is the mystery of this religion,) God hath been manifested in flesh, justified by spirit, hath appeared to messengers, been proclaimed among nations, believed on in the world, IV. taken up in glory. But the spirit saith expressly that in latter times some will apostatise from this belief, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines concerning demons, through

2 the hypocrisy of liars, who have their own conscience seared,

3 forbidding marriage, and enjoining an abstinence from meats which God hath created to be partaken of with thankfulness by the faithful, and by them who are convinced of this truth,

4 that every thing which God created is good, and nothing to be

5 rejected; for when taken -.vith thankfulness it is sanctified by

6 the permission* of God and prayer. By suggesting these things to the brethren thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished by the words of this belief, and this good doctrine,

7 which thou hast followed. But as for vain and groundless fa-

8 bles, reject them, and exercise thyself for godliness. For bodily exercise is of little service, but this godliness is profitable for all things, having a promise of the present life and of that

9 to come. This is a faithful word and worthy of all acceptation;

10 for it is for this that we both labour and suffer reproach, because we have trusted in the living God, who is the saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.

11 Announce these things and teach them. Let none despise

12 thy youth; but be thou a pattern to the faithful in doctrine,

13 in behaviour, in love, in spirit, in fidelity, iu purity. Until I

14 come apply thyself to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. Neglect not the gift which is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy with the laying on of the hands of the assembled

15 elders. Meditate on these things; be intent upon them. That

16 thy improvement in all things may be manifest, take heed to thyself and to thy doctrine; continue in them: for by doing this thou wilt save thyself and them who hearken to thee.

V. Rebuke not an aged man with sharpness; but admonish 2 him as a father; young men, as brothers; aged women, as mo-

* Literally, worit, alluding, I presume, to the liberty granted to Noe and his offspring to eat flesh. VOL. iv. 3 B

3 thers; young women, as sisters, with all purity. Honour wi-

4 dows who are widows indeed. But if any widow hath children, or grand children; let these first learn to respect their own household, and to make suitable returns to their parents; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of the Lord.

5 Now she, who being really a widow and desolate, '-hath trusted in God, will continue in her supplications and prayers

6 night and day; but she, who indulgeth herself in sensuality,

7 is dead, though she liveth. Announce these things, that they

8 may be irreprehensible. Now if any one doth not provide for his own, and especially for those of his family, he hath renounced his belief, and is worse than an infidel.

9 Let no widow under sixty years old be put on the list.

10 Having been the wife of one man, is she eminent for good works? Hath she brought up children? Hath she exercised hospitality? Hath she washed the feet of the saints? Hath she assisted the afflicted? Hath she been assiduous to performevery

11 good work? As for young widows, reject them; for when they become impatient of the restraints of the Christ, they will wish

12 to marry, incurring blame for having violated their former en-

13 gagement. Add to this, that, being idle, they learn to ramble from house to house, and are not only idle, but are indeed tatlers, and intermedlers, speaking tilings which are unbecom-

14 ing. My decision therefore is, that the younger widows marry, bear children, govern their families, give no advantage, no

15 occasion of reproach to the adversary. For some have already turned aside after satan.

16 If any believer of either sex hath widows, let him or her relieve them, and let not the congregation be burdened,, that they may relieve them who are really widows.

17 Let the elders who preside well be accounted worthy ol

18 double honour, especially they who labour in word and doctrine; for the scripture saith, "Thou shah not muzzle an ox treading out corn,*" and, "The labourer is worthy of \vages.t"

19 Receive not an accusation against an elder, but on the tes-

ox

-

* Deut. 25. 24. f Luke 10. 7.

) timony of two'or three witnesses. Them, who sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear.

1 I charge thee before the God and Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, to observe these* things without prejudg-

2 ing, and to do nothing by partiality. Lay hands upon no one

3 hastily, nor be a partaker in the sins of others. Keep thyself pure. Discontinue the drinking of water, and take a little wine on account of thy stomach, and thy frequent indisposition.

4 The sins of some are so notorious that they go before them

5 to judgment. Some indeed they follow. In like manner also the good works of some are open and manifest; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.

'I. Let as many as are under a yoke of bondage account their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God, and

2 this doctrine, may not be reviled. And let not those who have believing masters disregard them because they are brethren, but serve them the more, because they who receive the good

3 service are believers, and beloved. Teach these things, and enforce them by exhortation. If any one teacheth otherwise, and doth not attend to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine according to godliness, he is

4 puffed up, knowing nothing, but raving upon questions and debates about words, from which proceed envy, contention, abusive language, evil suspicions, preposterous studies of

5 men whose minds are corrupt and devoid of truth, who suppose this religion to be a matter of gain. From such withdraw

6 thyself. Now this religion, with contentment, is a great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world; and it is evident that

8 we can carry nothing out of it. Having then food and rai-

9 meiit let us be content with these. But they who determine to be rich, fall headlong into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which plunge men into ruiu

W and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil; to gratify which, some have wandered from the faith, and pierced

11 themselves through with many sorrows. Butthou, man of God, shun these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

12 love, patience, gentleness. Maintain the good combat of faith. Lay hold on the life everlasting to which thou hast been in-

13 vitcd, and of which thou hast made a good profession before many witnesses. I charge thee in the presence of God, who

14 giveth life to all, and of Christ Jesus who witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession, to keep thyself, in respect to this command, unspotted, irreprehensible, until the appear-

15 ance of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, in his own proper times

16 will be displayed by him, who is the blessed and only potentate, the king of kings and the lord of lords, who alone hath immortality, who inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting dominion. Amen.

17 Charge them who are rich in this present state not to be high minded; not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the liv-

18 ing God who imparteth to us richly all things for enjoyment;

19 to be beneficent; to be rich in good works, ready to distribute; willing to communicate, laying up for themselves a good deposit for the time to come, that they may obtain the life everlasting.

20 O Timothy keep this deposit, avoiding the profane empty declamations, and the antitheses of that falsely called science, which some making a profession of, have, in respect to this belief, wandered from the mark.

The favor be with thee. Amen.