THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY.

CHAP. I.

1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the appointment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus, our hope, 2 to Timothy my own son in the faith; favour, mercy, and peace from God [our] Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord.

our Lord, who hath given me strength, that he counted me faithful, and put me into the ministry; 13 who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I acted ignorantly through unbelief: 14 and the favour of our Lord hath superabounded, with that faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

derers of fathers and of mothers, for destroyers of mankind, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for man-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which hath 3 AS I besought thee to been committed to my trust. 12 remain in Ephesus, when I[And] I thank Christ Jesus went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach other doctrines, 4 nor give heed to fables, and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than the dispensation of God in faith;* so do. 5 (NOW the end of this charge to thee is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 from all which some having erred, have turned aside to vain 15 This saying is true, and talk; 7 desiring to be teachers worthy to be received by all, of the law, yet not understand-that Christ Jesus came into ing what they say, nor con- the world to save sinners; of cerning what they strongly af- whom I am chief. 16 Howfirm. ever, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me, a chief sinner, Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for an example to those who should hereafter believe on him to aionian life. 17 Now to the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and

8 But we know that the law is good, if any one use it as the law requireth; 9 knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for mur

"This is the reading of all the ancient manuscripts except the Clermont. The meaning is, that idle questions concerning the fabulous genealogies of the Oriental philosophy would rather lead to trifling and endless disputes, than to a practical knowledge of the gospel dispensation." Im. Ver. note.

glory to the ages of ages. | holy hands, without anger and Amen.)

"That is, he had excommunicated them." Dr. Priestly. See 1 Cor. v. 5. He had expelled them from that community, of which Christ was the head and ruler, to the kingdom of hea‐ thenism and darkness, of which satan [the adversary] was the supposed chief.

Or, an overseer, a superintendant of the church, the same as a presbyter, or elder, See Aets xx. 17, 28.

convert, lest he be lifted up with vanity, and fall into the condemnation of the impostor. 7 Moreover, [he] must have a good testimony from those who are without: lest he fall into reproach, and the snare of the impostor.

believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

CH. IV. 1 But the spirit saith expressly that, in latter times, some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceitful spirits, and to doctrines concerning demons, 2 through 8 In like manner, the deacons the hypocrisy of those who must be grave, not double-speak falsehoods, of those whose tongued, not given to much conscience is seared with a hot wine, not greedy of base gain: iron; 3 who forbid to marry, 9 holding the mystery of the and command to abstain from faith with a pure conscience. kinds of food, which God created 10 And let these be first prov- to be partaken of with thanksed; then let them use the office giving by those who are believof deacon, being found irre- ers, and who know the truth: 4 proachable. 11 In like manner namely, that every creature of the women must be grave, not God, is good, and nothing is to slanderers,* sober, faithful in be refused, if it be received with all things. 12 Let the deacons thanksgiving: 5 for it is sanctibe husbands of one wife, ruling|fied‡ through the word of God, their children and their own and through prayer. 6 If thou families well. 13 For those who tell the brethren these things, have used the office of a dea-thou wilt be a good minister of con well, acquire to themselves Jesus Christ, nourished up in an honourable rank, and great the words of the faith, and the freedom of speech in the faith good doctrine which thou hast which is in Christ Jesus. fully understood.

14 I write these things to thee, hoping to come to thee shortly: 15 but if I delay, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.t

7 But reject profane and old women's fables; and exercise thyself to godliness: 8 for bodily exercise profiteth for a little time only; but godliness is profitable for all time, having a promise of the life which now is, THE pillar and firm support and of that which is coming. of the truth 16 (and confessed-9 This is a true saying, and ly great) is this mystery of god-worthy to be received by all. liness: He whot was manifest- 10 For on this account we ed in flesh, justified in spirit, [both] labour and suffer rehath appeared to messengers, proach, because we trust in been proclaimed among nations, the living God, who is the

• Gr. diaCorous devils, or impostors.

This is according to the pointing in Griesbach. Some good copies read which, instead of os

he who. See Griesbach's notes.

i.e. made lawful by a divine warrant.

saviour of all men, but especially of those who believe. 11 Give in charge and teach these things.

provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he denieth the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let not a widow be taken into the number of deaconnesses under sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband,

12 LET no one despise thy youth: but be thou an example to the believers, in discourse, in behaviour, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhor-10 well reported of for good tation, to teaching. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the putting on of the hands of the elders. 15 Meditate on these things ; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress [in] all may appear: 16 take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching; continue in them: for by doing this thou wilt save both thyself, and those who hear thee.

CH. V. 1 REBUKE not an elder, but exhort him as a father; and the younger men as brethren: 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger, as sisters, with all purity.

works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the feet of the saints, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

11 But reject younger widows; for when they grow weary of the restraints of Christ, they desire to marry; 12 and are blameable, because they have laid aside their first resolution: 13 and at the same time they learn to be idle also, going about from house to house; and not idle only, but tattlers also, and busy-bodies. speaking what they ought not. 14 I will therefore, that the younger widows marry, bear

3 SUPPORT widows who are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or grand-children, guide their family. children, let them learn in the first place to treat their own family piously, and to requite their progenitors; for this is acceptable before God.

5 Now she who is a widow indeed, and left alone, hopeth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day: 6 but she who rioteth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth. 7 These things also give in charge; that they may be blameless. 8 But if any one

give no occasion to the adversary of speaking reproachfully. 15 For some have already turned aside after the adversary. 16 If any [brother in the faith, or sister in the faith, have widows, let such relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.

17 LET the elders who preside well, be counted worthy of double reward; especially those who labour in the word and in

are

brethren: but let them serve the more willingly, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.

3 IF any one teach otherwise, and consent not to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is ac

teaching: 18 for the scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out the corn." And, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21 I charge thee in the pre-cording to godliness, 4 he is sence of God, and of [the Lord] Jesus Christ, and of the chosen messengers,* that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.

22 Put thy hands hastily on no one; and partake not in the sins of others.

lifted up with vanity, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words; whence cometh envy, contention, evil-speakings, wicked surmisings, 5 perverse disputings among men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that godliness is gain: [from such withdraw thyself.] 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 24 THE sins of some men For we brought nothing into are manifest beforehand, going this world; and it is [certain] before to condemnation; but of that we can carry nothing out. some men they follow after. 258 And, having food and raiment, In like manner, also, the good | let us with these be content. 9 works of some are manifest be- But they who would be rich, forehand; and those works which are otherwise cannot be hid.

KEEP thyself pure. 23 (Drink no longer water; but use a little wine, because of thy stomach and thy frequent infirmities.)

fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtCH. VI 1 LET as many ser- ful desires, which overwhelm vants as are under the yoke, men in calamity and ruin. 10 count their own masters worthy For the love of money is the of all honour; that the name of root of all evil: which while God, and his doctrine, be not some covet, they have erred evil-spoken of. 2 And let not from the faith, and have piercthose who have believing mas-ed themselves through with ters despise them, because they many sorrows.

chosen messengers, i. e. the apostles of Christ, who were chosen to bear testimony to his resurrection. Acts i. 2. q. d. I charge you as in the presence of God your creator and judge, of Christ your master and chief, and of the apostles of Jesus, whose example you are to follow, etc. Abp. Newcome, with the public version, renders the words, "the elect angels," and some suppose an allusion to the court of heaven, as analogous to the Persian court. See Benson and Priestly. But the former interpretation best suits the connexion. If it be objected that Timothy was not actually in the presence of the apostles, it may be replied that the apostle's language does not necessarily imply this. Nor can it be proved that he was in the presence of the elect angels, whoever may be the persons intended.