So why don’t we obey as professing Christians? It really comes down to a lack of faith. For some reason, we believe we’ll be happier if we pursue a life contrary to Scripture. But in doing so, we not only bring needless pain into our own lives, but we also commit treason against the one we call our Lord and give Him a vote of no confidence. We are all guilty to some degree, but the mark of a true believer is a desire and ability to obey.
Randy Smith

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandmentof God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope; {1:2} unto Timothy, mytrue child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father andChrist Jesus our Lord. {1:3} As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus,when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain mennot to teach a different doctrine, {1:4} neither to give heed to fablesand endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than adispensation of God which is in faith; [so do I now]. {1:5} But the endof the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience andfaith unfeigned: {1:6} from which things some having swerved haveturned aside unto vain talking; {1:7} desiring to be teachers of thelaw, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof theyconfidently affirm. {1:8} But we know that the law is good, if a manuse it lawfully, {1:9} as knowing this, that law is not made for arighteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly andsinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers andmurderers of mothers, for manslayers, {1:10} for fornicators, forabusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for falseswearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sounddoctrine; {1:11} according to the gospel of the glory of the blessedGod, which was committed to my trust. {1:12} I thank him that enabledme, [even] Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful,appointing me to [his] service; {1:13} though I was before ablasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy,because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; {1:14} and the grace of ourLord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.{1:15} Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, thatChrist Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:{1:16} howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chiefmight Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample ofthem that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. {1:17}Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be]honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. {1:18} This charge I commitunto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led theway to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare; {1:19}holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from themmade shipwreck concerning the faith: {1:20} of whom is Hymenaeus andAlexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught notto blaspheme.

{2:1} I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers,intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; {2:2} for kings andall that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet lifein all godliness and gravity. {2:3} This is good and acceptable in thesight of God our Saviour; {2:4} who would have all men to be saved, andcome to the knowledge of the truth. {2:5} For there is one God, onemediator also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus, {2:6}who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony [to be borne] in itsown times; {2:7} whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (Ispeak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith andtruth. {2:8} I desire therefore that the men pray in every place,lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. {2:9} In likemanner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, withshamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearlsor costly raiment; {2:10} but (which becometh women professinggodliness) through good works. {2:11} Let a woman learn in quietnesswith all subjection. {2:12} But I permit not a woman to teach, nor tohave dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. {2:13} For Adam wasfirst formed, then Eve; {2:14} and Adam was not beguiled, but the womanbeing beguiled hath fallen into transgression: {2:15} but she shall besaved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love andsanctification with sobriety.

{3:1} Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of abishop, he desireth a good work. {3:2} The bishop therefore must bewithout reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded,orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; {3:3} no brawler, nostriker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; {3:4} one thatruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with allgravity; {3:5} (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, howshall he take care of the church of God?) {3:6} not a novice, lestbeing puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. {3:7}Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lesthe fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. {3:8} Deacons in likemanner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, notgreedy of filthy lucre; {3:9} holding the mystery of the faith in apure conscience. {3:10} And let these also first be proved; then letthem serve as deacons, if they be blameless. {3:11} Women in likemanner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in allthings. {3:12} Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their]children and their own houses well. {3:13} For they that have servedwell as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldnessin the faith which is in Christ Jesus. {3:14} These things write I untothee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; {3:15} but if I tarry long,that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the houseof God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground ofthe truth. {3:16} And without controversy great is the mystery ofgodliness;
He who was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the spirit,
Seen of angels,
Preached among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.

{4:1} But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shallfall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrinesof demons, {4:2} through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, brandedin their own conscience as with a hot iron; {4:3} forbidding to marry,[and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to bereceived with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.{4:4} For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected,if it be received with thanksgiving: {4:5} for it is sanctified throughthe word of God and prayer. {4:6} If thou put the brethren in mind ofthese things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourishedin the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hastfollowed [until now]: {4:7} but refuse profane and old wives’ fables.And exercise thyself unto godliness: {4:8} for bodily exercise isprofitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things,having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.{4:9} Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation. {4:10} Forto this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on theliving God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them thatbelieve. {4:11} These things command and teach. {4:12} Let no mandespise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, inword, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. {4:13} Till Icome, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. {4:14} Neglectnot the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, withthe laying on of the hands of the presbytery. {4:15} Be diligent inthese things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may bemanifest unto all. {4:16} Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching.Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save boththyself and them that hear thee.

{5:1} Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the youngermen as brethren: {5:2} the elder women as mothers; the younger assisters, in all purity. {5:3} Honor widows that are widows indeed.{5:4} But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learnfirst to show piety towards their own family, and to requite theirparents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. {5:5} Now she thatis a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, andcontinueth in supplications and prayers night and day. {5:6} But shethat giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. {5:7} Thesethings also command, that they may be without reproach. {5:8} But ifany provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hathdenied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. {5:9} Let none beenrolled as a widow under threescore years old, [having been] the wifeof one man, {5:10} well reported of for good works; if she hath broughtup children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hathwashed the saints’ feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if shehath diligently followed every good work. {5:11} But younger widowsrefuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire tomarry; {5:12} having condemnation, because they have rejected theirfirst pledge. {5:13} And withal they learn also [to be] idle, goingabout from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also andbusybodies, speaking things which they ought not. {5:14} I desiretherefore that the younger [widows] marry, bear children, rule thehousehold, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling: {5:15} foralready some are turned aside after Satan. {5:16} If any woman thatbelieveth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church beburdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed. {5:17} Letthe elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especiallythose who labor in the word and in teaching. {5:18} For the scripturesaith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And,The laborer is worthy of his hire. {5:19} Against an elder receive notan accusation, except at [the mouth of] two or three witnesses. {5:20}Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be infear. {5:21} I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, andthe elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice,doing nothing by partiality. {5:22} Lay hands hastily on no man,neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. {5:23} Beno longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’ssake and thine often infirmities. {5:24} Some men’s sins are evident,going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after. {5:25}In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such asare otherwise cannot be hid.

{6:1} Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their ownmasters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine benot blasphemed. {6:2} And they that have believing masters, let themnot despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve themthe rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing andbeloved. These things teach and exhort. {6:3} If any man teacheth adifferent doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, [even] the wordsof our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according togodliness; {6:4} he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting aboutquestionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,railings, evil surmisings, {6:5} wranglings of men corrupted in mindand bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.{6:6} But godliness with contentment is great gain: {6:7} for webrought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;{6:8} but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. {6:9}But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snareand many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destructionand perdition. {6:10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds ofevil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith,and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {6:11} But thou,O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. {6:12} Fight the good fightof the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called,and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.{6:13} I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to allthings, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed thegood confession; {6:14} that thou keep the commandment, without spot,without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: {6:15}which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and onlyPotentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; {6:16} who only hathimmortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen,nor can see: to whom [be] honor and power eternal. Amen. {6:17} Chargethem that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded,nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, whogiveth us richly all things to enjoy; {6:18} that they do good, thatthey be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willingto communicate; {6:19} laying up in store for themselves a goodfoundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the lifewhich is [life] indeed. {6:20} O Timothy, guard that which is committedunto [thee], turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions ofthe knowledge which is falsely so called; {6:21} which some professinghave erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you.

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