Outline
- Greetings (1:1-2)
- Warning against False Teachers (1:3-11)
- The Lord's Grace to Paul (1:12-17)
- The Purpose of Paul's Instructions to Timothy (1:18-20)
- Instructions concerning Church Administration (chs. 2-3)
- Instructions concerning False Teaching (ch. 4)
- Instructions concerning Different Groups in the Church (5:1;6:2)
- Miscellaneous Matters (6:3-19)
- Concluding Appeal and Benediction (6:20-21)
1 Timothy 1 NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, an apostle
of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus,
who gives us hope.
2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son
in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace,
mercy, and peace.
3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged
you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the
truth.
4 Don’t let them waste their time in
endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to
meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in
God.
5 The purpose of my instruction is that
all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear
conscience, and genuine faith.
6 But some people have missed this
whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in
meaningless discussions.
7 They want to be known as teachers of
the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though
they speak so confidently.
8 We know that the law is good when
used correctly.
9 For the law was not intended for
people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious,
who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is
holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders.
10 The law is for people who are
sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars,
promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome
teaching
11 that comes from the glorious Good
News entrusted to me by our blessed God.
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who
has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and
appointed me to serve him,
13 even though I used to blaspheme the
name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on
me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
14 Oh, how generous and gracious our
Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ
Jesus.
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and
everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
16 But God had mercy on me so that
Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even
the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him
and receive eternal life.
17All honor and glory to God forever and
ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God.
Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, here are my
instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier.
May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles.
19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and
keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences;
as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
20 Hymenaeus and
Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so
they might learn not to blaspheme God.
1 Timothy 2 NLT
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for
all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks
for them.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who
are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by
godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to
understand the truth.
5 For, There is one God and one
Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
6 He gave his life to purchase freedom
for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right
time.
7 And I have been chosen as a preacher
and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not
exaggerating—just telling the truth.
8 In every place of worship, I want men
to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and
controversy.
9 And I want women to be modest in
their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw
attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or
pearls or expensive clothes.
10 For women who claim to be devoted to
God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.
11 Women should learn quietly and
submissively.
12 I do not let women teach men or have
authority over them. Let them listen quietly.
13 For God made Adam first, and
afterward he made Eve.
14 And it was not Adam who was deceived
by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.
15 But women will be
saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness,
and modesty.
1 Timothy 3 NLT
1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If
someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.”
2 So an elder must be a man whose life
is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control,
live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his
home, and he must be able to teach.
3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be
violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.
4 He must manage his own family well,
having children who respect and obey him.
5 For if a man cannot manage his own
household, how can he take care of God’s church?
6 An elder must not be a new believer,
because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
7 Also, people outside the church must
speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s
trap.
8 In the same way, deacons must be well
respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with
money.
9 They must be committed to the mystery
of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
10 Before they are appointed as deacons,
let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as
deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives must be
respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be
faithful in everything they do.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his
wife, and he must manage his children and household well.
13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded
with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in
Christ Jesus.
14 I am writing these things to you now,
even though I hope to be with you soon,
15 so that if I am delayed, you will
know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the
church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the
truth.
16 Without question,
this is the great mystery of our faith : Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the
nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.
