THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO TIMOTHY
St. Paul write this Epistle to his BELOVED TIMOTHY, being
then bishop of Ephesus, to instruct him in the duties of a
bishop, both in respect to himself and to his charge; and
that he ought to be well informed of the good morals of
those on whom he was to impose hands: Impose not hands
lightly upon any man. He tells him also how he should
behave towards his clergy. The Epistle was written about 33
years after our Lord's Ascension; but where it was written
is uncertain: the more general opinion is, that it was in
Macedonia.
1 Timothy Chapter 1
He puts Timothy in mind of his charge and blesses God for
the mercy he himself had received.
1:1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the
commandment of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope:
1:2. To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy and
peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
1:3. As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went
into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach
otherwise:
1:4. Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which furnish questions rather than the edification of God
which is in faith.
1:5. Now the end of the commandment is charity from a pure
heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.
1:6. From which things some, going astray, are turned aside
unto vain babbling:
1:7. Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding
neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.
1:8. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully.
1:9. Knowing this: That the law is not made for the just
man but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly and
for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
The law is not... He means, that the just man doth good,
and avoideth evil, not as compelled by the law, and merely
for fear of the punishment appointed for transgressors; but
voluntarily, and out of the love of God and virtue; and
would do so, though there were no law.
1:10. For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with
mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons,
and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine:
1:11. Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the
blessed God which hath been committed to my trust.
1:12. I give him thanks who hath strengthened me, even to
Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he hath counted me
faithful, putting me in the ministry:
1:13. Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and
contumelious. But I obtained the mercy of God, because I
did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1:14. Now the grace of our Lord hath abounded exceedingly
with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.
1:15. A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
whom I am the chief.
1:16. But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me
first Christ Jesus might shew forth all patience, for the
information of them that shall believe in him unto life
everlasting.
1:17. Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the
only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1:18. This precept, I commend to thee, O son Timothy:
according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou
war in them a good warfare,
1:19. Having faith and a good conscience, which some
rejecting have made shipwreck concerning the faith.
1:20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have
delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to
blaspheme.
1 Timothy Chapter 2
Prayers are to be said for all men, because God wills the
salvation of all. Women are not to teach.
2:1. I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications,
prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all
men:
2:2. For kings and for all that are in high station: that
we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and
chastity.
2:3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Saviour,
2:4. Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
2:5. For there is one God: and one mediator of God and men,
the man Christ Jesus:
One mediator... Christ is the one and only mediator of
redemption, who gave himself, as the apostle writes in the
following verse.
2:6. Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in
due times.
a redemption for all.... He is also the only mediator, who
stands in need of no other to recommend his petitions to
the Father. But this is not against our seeking the prayers
and intercession, as well of the faithful upon earth, as of
the saints and angels in heaven, for obtaining mercy,
grace, and salvation, through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul
himself often desired the help of the prayers of the
faithful, without any injury to the mediatorship of Jesus
Christ.
2:7. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle (I
say the truth, I lie not), a doctor of the Gentiles in
faith and truth.
2:8. I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting
up pure hands, without anger and contention.
2:9. In like manner, women also in decent apparel: adorning
themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited
hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire:
2:10. But, as it becometh women professing godliness, with
good works.
2:11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
2:12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use
authority over the man: but to be in silence.
2:13.For Adam was first formed; then Eve.
2:14. And Adam was not seduced; but the woman, being
seduced, was in the transgression.
2:15. Yet she shall be saved through child bearing; if she
continue in faith and love and sanctification with
sobriety.
1 Timothy Chapter 3
What sort of men are to be admitted into the clergy. The
church is the pillar of truth.
3:1. A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a
bishop, he desireth good work.
3:2. It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the
husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour,
chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,
Of one wife.... The meaning is not that every bishop should
have a wife (for St. Paul himself had none), but that no
one should be admitted to the holy orders of bishop,
priest, or deacon, who had been married more than once.
3:3. Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not
quarrelsome, not covetous, but
3:4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his
children in subjection with all chastity.
3:5. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how
shall he take care of the church of God?
3:6. Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he
fall into the judgment of the devil.
A neophyte.... That is, one lately baptized, a young
convert.
3:7. Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who
are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of
the devil.
3:8. Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued,
not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:
3:9. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.
3:10. And let these also first be proved: and so let them
minister, having no crime.
3:11. The women in like manner: chaste, not slanderers, but
sober, faithful in all things.
3:12. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule
well their children and their own houses.
3:13. For they that have ministered well shall purchase to
themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
3:14. These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall
come to thee shortly.
3:15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou
oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth.
The pillar and ground of the truth.... Therefore the church
of the living God can never uphold error, nor bring in
corruptions, superstition, or idolatry.
3:16. And evidently great is the mystery of godliness,
which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the
spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the
Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.
1 Timothy Chapter 4
He warns him against heretics, and exhorts him to the
exercise of piety.
4:1. Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of
error and doctrines of devils,
4:2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience
seared,
4:3. Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God
hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the
faithful and by them that have known the truth.
Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats.... He speaks of
the Gnostics, the Marcionites, the Eneratites, the
Manicheans, and other ancient heretics, who absolutely
condemned marriage, and the use of all kind of meat;
because they pretended that all flesh was from an evil
principle. Whereas the church of God, so far from
condemning marriage, holds it a holy sacrament; and forbids
it to none but such as by vow have chosen the better part:
and prohibits not the use of any meats whatsoever in proper
times and seasons; though she does not judge all kind of
diet proper for days of fasting and penance.
4:4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
rejected that is received with thanksgiving:
4:5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
4:6. These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be
a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words
of faith and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained
unto.
4:7. But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise
thyself unto godliness.
4:8. For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but
godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of
the life that now is and of that which is to come.
4:9. A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
4:10. For therefore we labour and are reviled, because we
hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men,
especially of the faithful.
4:11. These things command and teach:
4:12. Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example
of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in
faith, in chastity.
4:13. Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and
to doctrine.
4:14. Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was
given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the
priesthood.
4:15. Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these
things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all.
4:16. Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in
them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and
them that hear thee.
1 Timothy Chapter 5
He gives him lessons concerning widows, and how he is to
behave to his clergy.
5:1. An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a
father: young men, as brethren:
5:2. Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all
chastity.
5:3. Honour widows that are widows indeed.
5:4. But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let
her learn first to govern her own house and to make a
return of duty to her parents; for this is acceptable
before God.
5:5. But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her
trust in God and continue in supplications and prayers
night and day.
5:6. For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is
living.
5:7. And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.
5:8. But if any man have not care of his own and especially
of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is
worse than an infidel.
5:9. Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years
of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.
5:11. But the younger widows avoid. For when they have
grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:
5:12. Having damnation, because they have made void their
first faith.
Their first faith.... Their vow, by which they had engaged
themselves to Christ.
5:13. And withal being idle they learn to go about from
house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also
and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not.
5:14. I will, therefore, that the younger should marry,
bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion
to the adversary to speak evil.
5:15. For some are already turned aside after Satan.
5:16. If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister
to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may
be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
5:17. Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of
double honour: especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.
5:18. For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox
that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of
his reward.
5:19. Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under
two or three witnesses.
5:20. Them that sin reprove before all that the rest also
may have fear.
5:21. I charge thee, before God and Christ Jesus and the
elect angels, that thou observe these things without
prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.
5:22. Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be
partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.
5:23. Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for
thy stomach's sake and thy frequent infirmities.
5:24. Some men's sins are manifest, going before to
judgment: and some men they follow after.
5:25. In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they
that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Timothy Chapter 6
Duties of servants. The danger of covetousness. Lessons for
the rich.
6:1. Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count
their masters worthy of all honour; lest the name of the
Lord and his doctrine be blasphemed.
6:2. But they that have believing masters, let them not
despise them, because they are brethren; but serve them the
rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who are
partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
6:3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to the
sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to that doctrine
which is according to godliness,
6:4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions
and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions,
blasphemies, evil suspicions,
6:5. Conflicts of men corrupted in mind and who are
destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness.
6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
6:7. For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly
we can carry nothing out.
6:8. But having food and wherewith to be covered, with
these we are content.
6:9. For they that will become rich fall into temptation
and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable
and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and
perdition.
6:10. For the desire of money is the root of all evils;
which some coveting have erred from the faith and have
entangled themselves in many sorrows.
6:11. But thou, O man of God, fly these things: and pursue
justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness.
6:12. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art called and be it confessed a good
confession before many witnesses.
6:13. I charge thee before God who quickeneth all things,
and before Christ Jesus who gave testimony under Pontius
Pilate, a good confession:
6:14. That thou keep the commandment without spot,
blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
6:15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the Blessed
and only Mighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords:
6:16. Who only hath immortality and inhabiteth light
inaccessible: whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom
be honour and empire everlasting. Amen.
6:17. Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded
nor to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the
living God (who giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy)
6:18. To do good, to be rich in good work, to give easily,
to communicate to others,
6:19. To lay up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the
true life.
6:20. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust,
avoiding the profane novelties of words and oppositions of
knowledge falsely so called.
6:21. Which some promising, have erred concerning the
faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
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