1 Timothy 2 and 3 NLT

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Warning against False Teachers (1:3-11)
  • The Nature of the Heresy (1:3-7)
  • The Purpose of the Law (1:8-11)
• 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)
  • Public Worship (ch. 2)
    • Prayer in public worship (2:1-8)
    • Women in public worship (2:9-15)
  • Qualifications for Church Officers (3:1-13)
    • Overseers (3:1-7)
    • Deacons (3:8-13)
  • Purpose of These Instructions (3:14-16)
• Instructions concerning False Teaching (ch. 4)
  • False Teaching Described (4:1-5)
  • Methods of Dealing with It Explained (4:6-16)
• Instructions concerning Different Groups in the Church (5:1;6:2)
  • The Older and Younger (5:1-2)
  • Widows (5:3-16)
  • Elders (5:17-25)
  • Slaves (6:1-2)
• Miscellaneous Matters (6:3-19)
  • False Teachers (6:3-5)
  • Love of Money (6:6-10)
  • Charge to Timothy (6:11-16)
  • The Rich (6:17-19)
• Concluding Appeal and Benediction (6:20-21)

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.

Proverbs 31 NLT

1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. 

2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 

3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings. 

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. 

5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 

6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. 

7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more. 

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 

9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. 

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 

11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 

12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 

13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 

14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 

15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 

17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 

18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. 

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. 

20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. 

21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. 

22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. 

23Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. 

24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. 

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 

27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:

29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” 

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. 

31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

1 Timothy 1 NLT

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Warning against False Teachers (1:3-11)
  • The Nature of the Heresy (1:3-7)
  • The Purpose of the Law (1:8-11)
• 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)
  • Public Worship (ch. 2)
    • Prayer in public worship (2:1-8)
    • Women in public worship (2:9-15)
  • Qualifications for Church Officers (3:1-13)
    • Overseers (3:1-7)
    • Deacons (3:8-13)
  • Purpose of These Instructions (3:14-16)
• Instructions concerning False Teaching (ch. 4)
  • False Teaching Described (4:1-5)
  • Methods of Dealing with It Explained (4:6-16)
• Instructions concerning Different Groups in the Church (5:1;6:2)
  • The Older and Younger (5:1-2)
  • Widows (5:3-16)
  • Elders (5:17-25)
  • Slaves (6:1-2)
• Miscellaneous Matters (6:3-19)
  • False Teachers (6:3-5)
  • Love of Money (6:6-10)
  • Charge to Timothy (6:11-16)
  • The Rich (6:17-19)
• 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.

Proverbs 30 NLT

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. 

2 I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. 

3 I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One. 

4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know! 

5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 

6 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. 

7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. 

8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 

9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD ?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. 

10 Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it. 

11 Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother. 

12 They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed. 

13 They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances. 

14 They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity. 

15 The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied— no, four that never say, “Enough!”: 

16 the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire. 

17The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures. 

18 There are three things that amaze me— no, four things that I don’t understand: 

19 how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman. 

20 An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?” 

21 There are three things that make the earth tremble— no, four it cannot endure: 

22 a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers, 

23 a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress. 

24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: 

25 Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. 

26 Hyraxes —they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. 

27Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation. 

28Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces. 

29 There are three things that walk with stately stride— no, four that strut about: 

30 the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything, 

31 the strutting rooster, the male goat, a king as he leads his army. 

32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.

33 As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.