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1 Timothy New Living Translation (NLT)
chapter 1
Greetings from Paul
1This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and by
Christ Jesus our hope.
2It is written to Timothy, my true child in the faith.
May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
Warnings against False Teachings
3When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those who are teaching wrong
doctrine. 4Don't let people waste time in endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigrees. For these
things only cause arguments; they don't help people live a life of faith in God. 5The purpose of my instruction
is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and
sincere faith.
6But some teachers have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their
time arguing and talking foolishness. 7They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don't
know what they are talking about, even though they seem so confident. 8We know these laws are good when
they are used as God intended. 9But they were not made for people who do what is right. They are for people
who are disobedient and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what
is holy, who murder their father or mother or other people. 10These laws are for people who are sexually
immoral, for homosexuals and slave traders, for liars and oath breakers, and for those who do anything else
that contradicts the right teaching 11that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed
God.
Pauls Gratitude for Gods Mercy
12How thankful I am to Christ Jesus our Lord for considering me trustworthy and appointing me to serve him,
13even though I used to scoff at the name of Christ. I hunted down his people, harming them in every way I
could. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14Oh, how kind and gracious the
Lord was! He filled me completely with faith and the love of Christ Jesus.
15This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--and
I was the worst of them all. 16But that is why 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. 17Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the
unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
Timothys Responsibility
18Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier.
May they give you the confidence to fight well in the Lord's battles. 19Cling tightly to your faith in Christ, and
always keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result,
their faith has been shipwrecked. 20Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples of this. I turned them over
to Satan so they would learn not to blaspheme God.
chapter 2
Instructions about Worship
1I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them,
and give thanks. 2Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace
and quietness, in godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4for he wants everyone to
be saved and to understand the truth. 5For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God
and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. 6He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the
message that God gave to the world at the proper time. 7And I have been chosen--this is the absolute
truth--as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles about faith and truth.
8So wherever you assemble, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and
controversy. 9And 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. 10For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the
good things they do.
11Women should listen and learn quietly and submissively. 12I do not let women teach men or have authority
over them. Let them listen quietly. 13For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14And it was the
woman, not Adam, who was deceived by Satan, and sin was the result. 15But women will be saved through
childbearing and by continuing to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
chapter 3
Leaders in the Church
1It is a true saying that if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. 2For an elder
must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exhibit
self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be
able to teach. 3He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, peace loving, and not one
who loves money. 4He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. 5For if a
man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?
6An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will
use that pride to make him fall. 7Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not fall
into the Devil's trap and be disgraced.
8In the same way, deacons must be people who are respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy
drinkers and must not be greedy for money. 9They must be committed to the revealed truths of the Christian
faith and must live with a clear conscience. 10Before they are appointed as deacons, they should be given
other responsibilities in the church as a test of their character and ability. If they do well, then they may
serve as deacons.
11In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not speak evil of others. They must exercise
self-control and be faithful in everything they do.
12A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13Those who
do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith
in Christ Jesus.
The Truths of Our Faith
14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15so that if I can't come
for a while, 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 support of the truth.
16Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ appeared in the flesh
and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and was announced to the nations.
He was believed on in the world
and was taken up into heaven.
chapter 4
Warnings against False Teachers
1Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will
follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2These teachers are hypocrites and liars. They
pretend to be religious, but their consciences are dead.
3They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be
eaten with thanksgiving by people who know and believe the truth. 4Since everything God created is good,
we should not reject any of it. We may receive it gladly, with thankful hearts. 5For we know it is made holy
by the word of God and prayer.
A Good Servant of Christ Jesus
6If you explain this to the brothers and sisters, you will be doing your duty as a worthy servant of Christ
Jesus, one who is fed by the message of faith and the true teaching you have followed. 7Do not waste time
arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual
fitness. 8Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a
reward in both this life and the next. 9This is true, and everyone should accept it. 10We work hard and suffer
much in order that people will believe the truth, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all
people, and particularly of those who believe.
11Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12Don't let anyone think less of you because you
are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and
your purity. 13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and
teaching them.
14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the
church laid their hands on you. 15Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your
tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay
true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.
chapter 5
1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father.
Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2Treat the older women as you would your
mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters.
Advice about Widows, Elders, and Slaves
3The church should care for any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4But if she has children or
grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of
them. This is something that pleases God very much.
5But a woman who is a true widow, one who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. Night
and day she asks God for help and spends much time in prayer. 6But the widow who lives only for pleasure is
spiritually dead. 7Give these instructions to the church so that the widows you support will not be criticized.
8But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied
what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.
9A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful
to her husband. 10She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she
brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers? Has she served other Christians humbly? Has
she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?
11The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion
to Christ and they will want to remarry. 12Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge.
13Besides, they are likely to become lazy and spend their time gossiping from house to house, getting into
other people's business and saying things they shouldn't. 14So I advise these younger widows to marry again,
have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against
them. 15For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.
16If a Christian woman has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the
responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for widows who are truly alone.
17Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and
teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain." And in another
place, "Those who work deserve their pay!"
19Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.
20Anyone who sins should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that others will have a proper fear of
God.
21I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these
instructions without taking sides or showing special favor to anyone. 22Never be in a hurry about appointing
an elder. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23Don't drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick
so often.
24Remember that some people lead sinful lives, and everyone knows they will be judged. But there are others
whose sin will not be revealed until later. 25In the same way, everyone knows how much good some people
do, but there are others whose good deeds won't be known until later.
chapter 6
1 Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching
will not be shamed. 2If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work
all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts.
False Teaching and True Riches
Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3Some false teachers may deny these
things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation
for a godly life. 4Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has
an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting,
slander, and evil suspicions. 5These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell
the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich.
6Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. 7After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we
came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. 8So if we have enough
food and clothing, let us be content. 9But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by
many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is at the
root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many sorrows.
Pauls Final Instructions
11But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good.
Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight for what we
believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many
witnesses. 13And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good
testimony before Pontius Pilate, 14that you obey his commands with all purity. Then no one can find fault
with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 15For at the right time Christ will be revealed from
heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16He alone can never die,
and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No one has ever seen him, nor ever will. To
him be honor and power forever. Amen.
17Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be
gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18Tell
them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those
in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19By doing this they will be
storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.
20Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose
you with their so-called knowledge. 21Some people have wandered from the faith by following such
foolishness.
May God's grace be with you all.