CHAPTER II. THE APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS, THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL, WIDOWS, ELDERS, SERVANTS, ETC. 1 IT is a true saying, If any one desires an episcopate he desires a good work. It is necessary therefore that a bishop should be blameless, a husband of one wife, circumspect, sober, well-behaved, hospitable, apt to teach, not a wine-drinker, not a quarrelsome man, but gentle, not contentious, not avaricious, ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all dignity, but if any one knows not how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?—not a novice, lest being inflated with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. And he must also have a good name from those without, that he may not fall into reproach and a snare of the devil. 2 The deacons in like manner ought to be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not devoted to base gain, having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these be proved first, then let them serve, being found blameless. The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses. For they who exercise the deaconship well, procure for themselves an honorable standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly; but if I delay, that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. And confessedly great is the mystery of piety; [Christ,] who was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen by angels, was preached to the nations, was believed on in the world, was received up into glory. 4 But the Spirit says expressly, that in the last times some shall apostatize from the faith, attending to lying spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of false teachers, whose consciences are cauterized, who forbid to marry, [command] to ab stain from meat, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful and those who know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected, [but] to be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. 5 Suggesting these things to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished with the words of the faith and the good instruction which you have followed; but avoid profane and silly myths; exercise yourself in piety; for bodily exercise profits little; but piety is profitable in all things, having a promise of the present life and of the life to come. It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. For to this end we also labor and suffer reproach, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful. 6 These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the faithful, in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come attend to reading, exhortation, teaching. Neglect not the gift which is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the imposition of hands of the eldership. Study these things, be much in them, that your improvement may be manifest to all. Attend to yourself, and to teaching; continue in it, for doing this you will both save yourself and those that hear you. 7 Rebuke not an aged man, but entreat him as a father, the younger men as brothers, the aged women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity. Support the widows who are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. But one that is a widow indeed and alone hopes in God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day; but a woman that lives voluptuously is dead while she lives. And command these things, that they be blameless. And if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 8 Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband, well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work. But reject the younger widows; for when they fall into pleasure to the neglect of Christ, they wish to marry, being condemned because they have rejected the first faith; and at the same time also, being idle, they learn to go from house to house, and not only are they idle, they are also tattlers and mischief makers, saying what they ought not. I wish therefore the younger women to marry, bear children, keep house, give no occasion of reproach to the enemy; for some have already turned back after Satan. If any faithful man or faithful woman has widows, let them give them relief, and let not the church be burdened, that it may be able to relieve those really widows. 9 Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of a double compensation, especially those who labor in word and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes; and, The laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, except by two or three witnesses. Those that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 10 I charge you before God, and Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither partake of others' sins. Keep yourself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little-wine on account of your stomach and your frequent infirmities. The sins of some men are manifest, going before to judgment; but some they follow; in like manner also good works are manifest, and those which are otherwise cannot be hid. 11 Let as many servants as are under the yoke account their masters worthy of all honor, that the name and doctrine of God may not be blasphemed. And let those who have believing masters not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather serve, because they are believers and beloved, who partake of the benefit. 12 These things teach and exhort. If any one teaches differently, and consents not to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine which is according to piety, he is blinded and knows nothing, but has a sickly longing for debates and wars of words, from which arise envy, contention, blasphemies, evil suspicions, and wranglings of men of unsound judgments and destitute of the truth, supposing that piety is gain. But piety with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world; it is clear that we can carry nothing out of it; but having food and clothing let us be contented with them. But those who wish to be rich fall into trial and a snare, and many foolish and injurious desires, which plunge men into destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evils, which some having desired have been misled from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 13 But do you, O man of God, avoid these things; but pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called and made the good profession before many witnesses. I charge you before the God who gives life to all [creatures], and Christ Jesus who made the good profession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the charge without spot, without blame, till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the blessed and only Potentate will show in its times, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen nor can see; to whom be honor and power eternal; amen. 14 Charge the rich in the present life not to be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy, to perform good works, to be rich in good works, to be liberal, benevolent, treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold on the true life. 15 O Timothy, keep the trust, turning away from profane and empty words, and contradictions of mis-named science, which some having professed have erred from the faith. The grace be with you. SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. ROME, A.D. 65. CHAPTER I. INFORMATION, ADMONITION, ETC. 1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy my beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 I thank God, whom I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience, that I mention you incessantly in my prayers night and day, desiring to see you, remembering your tears, that I might be filled with joy, having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you. For which cause I admonish you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the imposition of my hands. For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 3 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but endure affliction with us in the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus from eternity, but made known now through the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, of which I was made a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher of the nations; for which cause I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep my trust to that day. 4 Retain the form of sound words which you heard from me in faith and the love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good trust, through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. You know this, that all those in Asia left me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, but being at Rome he sought most diligently, and found me. The Lord grant him to find mercy with the Lord in that day. vices he performed at Ephesus, you know very well. And what ser 5 Do you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, and what you heard from me through many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also. Endure evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one who serves as a soldier is involved in the business of life, that he may please him who has employed him as a soldier. And if a man contends as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. The husbandman who labors must first partake |