Salutation; Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Yeshua the messiah, appointed by our saviour God’s command and by Yeshua the messiah, who is our hope. 2 I’m writing to Timothy,[ref] my true child in the faith: may you receive grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and from our master Yeshua the messiah.

3 When I was going to Macedonia, I urged you to remain there in Ephesus, so that you could speak against those preaching a different message, 4 and advise the believers not to worry about myths and endless genealogies, which just result in useless speculations, rather than them using their faith to advance God’s plans. 5 The outcome of such teaching should be demonstrating love coming from a pure heart, a clean conscience, and selfless faith. 6 Some others have deviated from that, which then results in useless talk—7 they want to be religious teachers but they don’t understand what they’re talking about or what they’re agreeing to.

8 But we know that the religious law can be good if someone is using it lawfully, 9 but other than that, we know that the law isn’t made for those who’ve been forgiven by God. The law was made for those who are disobedient and out of control, those who ignore and disobey God, who don’t honour him but rather profane him, for those who would murder their parents or other people, 10 the sexually immoral, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, those who falsely accuse others in court, and those doing anything else that is against the sound teaching 11 that’s part of the good message that honours the wonderful God, and which was entrusted to me.

12 I’m thankful for our master Yeshua the messiah, for considering me faithful and strengthening me, and then appointing me to serve him, 13 even though I used to be a slanderer and persecutor and abuser,[ref] but I was shown mercy because I did it in unbelief due to my ignorance. 14 The grace of our master was so generous in giving me faith in and love for Yeshua the messiah. 15 This saying is trustworthy and worth being accepted by everyone: Yeshua the messiah came into this world to save sinners, of which I was the worst. 16 And this is why I was shown mercy: so that Yeshua the messiah can demonstrate his great patience in me first, as a pattern to all the others who will believe in him and obtain eternal life. 17 May the king of the ages, the indestructible, invisible, only God have all the honour and praise throughout all the ages. May it be so.

Timothy’s Responsibility

18 In line with previous prophecies, I’m entrusting you, young Timothy, with this: fight in this battle for good, 19 maintaining your faith and your clear conscience, even though others have turned back and shipwrecked their faith, 20 including Hymenaeus and Alexander, who I put Satan in charge of, so that they’d be disciplined to stop slandering.

2 Then first of all I urge you all to pray for all people—petitioning to God while also expressing thanks for them. 2 So too for ≈national leaders and other prominent officials so that we can live a quiet and tranquil life with all devoutness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing to God our saviour 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth.[ref] 5 There’s only one God and also one mediator between God and humankind and that’s the man Yeshua the messiah 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people and as a testimony of God’s love for all time. 7 I was appointed[ref] to proclaim that message and as a missionary—no lies, I’m telling you the truth here in the messiah—and also as a teacher of knowledge and the truth to non-Jews.

8 That’s why I long to see men praying in every country, lifting up their morally-clean hands and not harbouring anger or disunity.

9 Similarly women should wear respectable clothes that are sensible and modest,[ref] not with hair extensions or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but with what is fitting for women who do good things, having declared that they honour God. 11 Women should be learning quietly and submissively, 12 but I don’t permit women to be teaching or domineering men. They should remain quiet 13 because Adam was created first, then Eve,[ref] 14 and it wasn’t Adam that was seduced but rather it was the woman that was deceived and disobeyed.[ref] 15 But women will be saved through childbearing if they continue in faith and love and purity and self-control.

3 This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If anyone is aspiring to be an overseer, then it’s a good task that he’s desiring.’ 2 So it’s fitting that an overseer be above reproach,[ref] be the husband of one wife, sober, sensible, respectable, hospitable, a good teacher, 3 not dependent on alcohol or greedy or a bully, but rather gentle, peace-loving, 4 a good, dignified leader in his own home and in disciplining his children. 5 (If someone doesn’t know how to lead his own household, how could he take care of God’s assembly?) 6 He mustn’t be a new believer, because that might lead him to becoming proud, and from there to fall into the devil’s judgement. 7 It’s also fitting for him to have a good reputation with those outside the assembly, so that he doesn’t end up getting mocked, and from there falling into the devil’s trap.

8 Similarly helpers in the assembly should also be dignified, should only speak the truth, shouldn’t be greedy or addicted to wine, 9 and should cling to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 Once they’ve proven themselves to be without any misconduct, then let them be working in the assembly. 11 Their wives, too, should be dignified, should only speak the truth, and should be sober and faithful in everything they do. 12 These helpers in the assembly should be husbands of one wife, and should lead their children and their households well. 13 Those helpers who serve well will earn a good reputation for themselves and increase in confidence in their faith in Yeshua the messiah.

14 I am writing all this to you in the hope that I can come soon, 15 but if I get delayed, at least you’ll know how to organise God’s household—that is the assembly of the living God—which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 But yes, this godliness is quite a mystery: he appeared in a body, was declared innocent by the spirit, was seen by messengers, was preached among the nations, was believed in around the world, and then was taken up to heaven to be honoured.

4 But the spirit is expressly saying that in later times, some will pull back from their faith, listening instead to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons. 2 After suppressing their own consciences, they’ll become hypocritical liars, 3 telling people not to get married and to keep away from foods that God created for faithful people who know the truth to be able to eat with thankfulness. 4 Every creature made by God is good and nothing should be rejected but rather be received with thanksgiving 5 because it’s made acceptable by God’s declaration and by prayer.

6 If you explain these things to the believers then you’ll be a good servant of Yeshua the messiah, growing in the messages of faith and of the good teachings that you have followed. 7 Refuse to listen to rude jokes and conspiracy theories. Instead train yourself to be godly, 8 because keeping fit is of some benefit, but being godly benefits every part of life, from the present life right through to life in the next age.

9 Here is a trustworthy saying that’s worthy of acceptance by everyone 10 and it’s what we work and strive for: we have put our hope in the living God who is the saviour of all people and particularly of all believers, 11 so command and teach these things.

12 Don’t let anyone despise you just because you’re young, but be an example for the believers in your speech and conduct, and in love, faith, and purity. 13 Prioritise the public reading of the scriptures as well as encouraging and teaching others until I come. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that you have in you which was given to you when the council of elders placed their hands on you and prophesied over you. 15 Keep these things in your thoughts so that everyone will be able to see your progress. 16 Hold on to your own integrity and to this teaching, and stay faithful to them, because as you do, you’ll be saving both yourself and the people listening to you.

5 Don’t scold an elder harshly, but encourage him as a father. Encourage younger men as brothers, 2 female elders as mothers and younger ones as sisters in all purity.

Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves

3 Show honour to widows—the real widows that is 4 because if a widow has children or grandchildren, then they should be learning to show their godliness to their own relatives first, and to be repaying their parents and grandparents because this is what God expects. 5 A woman who is a real widow and has been left by herself but puts her hope in God, she is then able to spend her days and nights in prayer and requesting God’s response. 6 But a widow who just lives for pleasure is dead inside even though she’s still living. 7 You should teach these things, Timothy, so that the people don’t anger God, 8 because if someone is not providing for their own household, then they’ve rejected their faith in God and they’re acting worse than an unbeliever.

9 The assembly should enrol[fn] a widow if she’s at least sixty years old and was the wife of a single husband. 10 She should be known for her good undertakings, for example if she raised children, if she was hospitable to strangers, if she washed the feet of believers, if she helped those who were oppressed, and if she always tried to do what was right.

11 But don’t enrol younger widows because their emotional needs might drive them to want to marry again rather than to serve the messiah 12 and we don’t want them to be judged because they couldn’t fulfil their faith commitment. 13 Plus they often follow others in idly going around houses, and not just being idle but also gossipping and meddling and chatting about things they shouldn’t. 14 That’s why I prefer younger women to be getting married and having children, to keep house, and to avoid all situations where others could accuse them. 15 In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.

16 If any believing woman has widowed relatives, they should continue to help them and not burden the assembly, so then the assembly can assist the really needy widows.

17 An elder who has led well should be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who work hard in studying and teaching the message, 18 [ref]because the scriptures say, “Don’t muzzle the ox working on the threshing floor,” and “A worker deserves their wages.” 19 [ref]Don’t entertain an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses, 20 but the ones that are sinning need to be scolded publicly so that others will be reluctant to do the same.

21 I am telling you these things in the sight of God and Yeshua the messiah and the chosen messengers so that you can put them into practice without any favouritism or partiality. 22 Don’t rush to lay hands on anyone[fn] and don’t join in other people’s sinful schemes, but strive to keep yourself pure.

23 Don’t carry on just drinking only water, because a little bit of wine might be good for your stomach and help with your frequent bouts of sickness.

24 The sins of some people are quite easy to see, being known ahead of them going to face judgement, but other people’s sins will only become known later. 25 It’s the same with people’s good deeds—some are quite easy to see and others aren’t, but nothing will be hidden in the end.

6 Those who are bonded into slavery should consider their masters to be worthy of honour, so that God’s name and message won’t be slandered, 2 and the ones having masters who are also believers shouldn’t despise their masters because we’re all brothers. On the contrary, let them serve well because the ones benefitting from their good work are beloved believers.

Those principles are what you should be teaching and encouraging the believers to do. 3 If anyone is teaching different things and their living is far from the message of our master Yeshua the messiah and from godly teaching, 4 that person is conceited. They don’t know anything, but instead obsess about debates and quibble about messages, and this leads to strife, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction. People like this have ruined their minds and been robbed of the truth, thinking that they can gain financially by appearing godly.

6 But genuine godly living does lead to contentment which is a big advantage, 7 because we brought nothing with us into this world and we can’t take anything out of it either. 8 As long as we have shelter and sustenance, then we’ll be content. 9 Those who desire wealth fall into temptation. It’s a trap which leads to many foolish and harmful desires, resulting in people sinking into ruin and destruction 10 because that desire for wealth is the root of all evil. Some who aspired to becoming wealthy wandered away from faith in Yeshua and wounded themselves with many disappointments.

11 But you, Timothy, as a godly person, flee from those things and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith in order to take hold of the eternal life which you were called to when you confessed wanting to follow Yeshua in front of many witnesses. 13 I am commanding you in front of God who gave life to everything, and in front of Yeshua the messiah who testified the good confession to Pontius Pilate,[ref] 14 to obey that command faultlessly until the return of our master Yeshua the messiah. 15 He will be revealed in his own time—the blessed and only God, the king over all rulers and Yahweh over all masters, 16 the only immortal one who lives in unapproachable brightness which no person has ever seen or is capable of looking at. He will be honoured for his eternal power. May it be so.

17 Command those who are rich in this present age to not be proud and not to put their hope in uncertain wealth, but in God who richly blesses us with all that we need to be happy. 18 They should live out goodness, doing good deeds, helping others and being generous, 19 thus they will be building themselves a good foundation for the coming age so that they may experience true life.

Personal Instructions and Benediction

20 So Timothy, guard what has been invested in you. Avoid useless and godless babbling and what others call knowledge but which opposes the true message 21 and which some who were believers have turned away to.

May God’s grace be with you all there.