Give these commands that they may be free from reproach. If any one does not provide for his own, and especially those of his own household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A widow is to be put on the list if she has reached the age of not less than sixty years, if she has been true to one husband, has a reputation for good deeds, has brought up children, has entertained strangers, has washed the feet of the holy, has ministered to people in distress, has been active in every good work. But younger widows refuse, for when wanton desires lead them away from Christ they wish to marry and thus they incur condemnation for breaking their first promise. At the same time they learn to be idle, going around from house to house, and not only idle, but gossips, and busybodies, saying what they should not.

I would, therefore, have the younger widows marry, bear children, keep house, give no occasion to our enemies for slander. For already some have turned aside after Satan.

If any woman who is a believer has widows, she must provide for them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may provide for those who are really widows.

The elders who preside well should be thought worthy of double salary, especially those who labor in speaking and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain," and the workman deserves his wages.

Against an elder do not receive an accusation unless on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Those who are going on in sin rebuke before all, that the rest may fear.

I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to observe these directions without prejudice, doing nothing through partiality.

Do not lay hands of ordination upon any one hastily. Have no share in the sins of other men. Keep yourself pure. Do not keep on being a water-drinker, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and because of your frequent ailments.

Some men's sins are conspicuous and go on before to condemnation, but the sins of some men follow after them. Just

so noble deeds are conspicuous and those that are otherwise cannot be hid.

VI

ALL who are slaves under the yoke must regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be profanely slandered. Those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brothers, but rather work as slaves for them because those who are benefited by their good work are believers and beloved.

Teach and urge these things. If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree to wholesome words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to religious teaching, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but morbidly fond of disputes and controversies from which come envy, strife, abusive language, wicked suspicions, and wranglings of men of depraved minds who are destitute of the truth. They think of religion as a source of gain.

Religion with contentment is a great source of gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we cannot carry anything out. If we have food and clothing we will be content with these. But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and injurious passions which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some men grasping for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pangs.

But you, O man of God, must shun this. Pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Play the grand hard game of the faith. Lay hold on life eternal, to which you have been called and have made the noble confession before many witnesses.

I charge you in the presence of God who gives life to all, and Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the noble confession, to keep the commandment stainless and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which in due time he will show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality,

who dwells in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen or can see. To him be honor and power eternal! Amen.

Command those who are rich in this world not to be haughty nor to fix their hope on uncertain wealth, but on God who provides all things richly for our enjoyment. They must do good work, be rich in noble deeds, be generous, ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a good fund for the future, that they may lay hold on the life that is real.

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from profane and empty talk and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge." Some while professing it have gone astray as regards the faith.

Grace be with you all.

PAUL'S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY

I

PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God whom I serve, following in the steps of my forefathers, with a pure conscience, while I constantly mention you in my prayers night and day, remembering your tears and longing to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I remember the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and then in your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it lives in you also. For this reason let me remind you to kindle anew the gift of God that is in you by the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.

Do not be ashamed to testify for our Lord or for me his prisoner, but join in suffering hardships for the good news as God gives power. It is he who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our deeds but according to his own purpose and grace, given to us in Christ Jesus ages ago but now manifested by the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has defeated death and brought to light life and immortality by the good news. For this I was made a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I am suffering these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am confident that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Hold to the example of wholesome words which you heard from me in faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us the precious trust committed to you.

You know that all of those in Asia have deserted me. Among them are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often cheered me and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he came to Rome he looked me up eagerly and found me. The Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And in how many ways he served me in Ephesus you know better still.

II

You, therefore, my child, must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things you heard from me, which came through many witnesses, you must commit to trustworthy men who will be able to teach others also. Take your share of hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one while serving as a soldier entangles himself in the affairs of life, for the soldier must please him who enlisted him. And if any one enters an athletic contest, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The farmer who does the labor ought first to have his share of the fruits. Think over what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as my good news teaches. In telling it I am suffering hardships even to chains, as if I were an evildoer, but God's message is not chained. For this reason I am enduring all for the sake of the chosen, that they may gain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Trustworthy is the saying, "For if we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we endure we shall also be kings with him; if we disown him, he will disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he cannot disown himself."

Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to engage in controversy to no profit, but to the ruin of the hearers. Be earnest in presenting yourself to God as a tested man, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, rightly handling the message of truth. But shun profane and empty talk. It will grow into greater impiety, and its teachings will spread like a gangrene. Hymenæus and Philetus are of this sort. They have gone astray as to the truth, saying that the resur