Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is the first epistle
of St. Paul to Timothy, chapters 1 through 6.
Chapter 1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the commandment of God our Savior and the
Lord Jesus Christ our hope. To Timothy, a true
son in faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God
our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. as i urged
you when i went into macedonia remain in ephesus
that you may charge some that they teach no other
doctrine nor give heed to fables and endless
genealogies which cause disputes rather than
godly edification which is in faith now the purpose
of the commandment is love from a pure heart,
from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
from which some have strayed, have turned aside
to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the
law, understanding neither what they say nor
the things which they affirm. But we know that
the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous
person, but for the lawless and insubordinate,
for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy
and profane. for murderers of fathers and murderers
of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators,
for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for
perjurers, and if there is any other thing that
is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the
glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was
committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus
our Lord, who has enabled me, because he counted
me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although
I was formerly a blasphemer. a persecutor, and
an insolent man. But I obtained mercy because
I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. And the grace
of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith
and love, which are in Christ Jesus. This is
a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners of whom I am chief. However, for this
reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern
to those who are going to believe on him for
everlasting life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal,
invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor
and glory forever and ever. Amen. Chapter 2 Therefore
I exhort you, first of all, that supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks
be made for all men, for kings, and all who are
in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life, in all godliness and reverence. For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth. For there
is one God and one mediator between God and men,
the man. Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom
for all, to be testified in due time, for which
I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. I
am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying,
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting,
in like manner also that the women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.
not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothing but which is proper for women professing
godliness with good works let a woman learn in
silence with all submission and i do not permit
a woman to teach or to have authority over a
man but to be in silence for adam was formed
first then eve and adam was not deceived but
the woman being deceived fell into transgression
nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing
if they continue in faith Love and holiness with
self -control. Chapter 3 This is a faithful saying.
If a man desires the position of a bishop, he
desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless,
the husband of one wife, temperate, sober -minded,
of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach,
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for
money, but gentle, not quarrelsome. not covetous,
one who rules his own house well, having his
children in submission with all reverence. For
if a man does not know how to rule his own house,
how will he take care of the church of God? Not
a novice, lest being puffed up with pride, he
fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
Moreover, he must have a good testimony among
those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. Likewise, deacons
must be reverent, not double -tongued, not given
too much wine, not greedy for money, holding
the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
But let these also first be tested, then let
them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers,
temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons
be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children
and their own houses well. For those who have
served well as deacons obtain for themselves
a good standing and great boldness in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus. These things I write
to you, though I hope to come to you shortly.
But if I am delayed, I write so 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 ground of the truth. And
without controversy, great is the mystery of
godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, justified
in the spirit. seen by angels, preached among
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up in glory. Chapter 4 Now the Spirit expressly
says that in latter times some will depart from
the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy,
having their own conscience seared with a hot
iron. forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain
from foods which God created to be received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and know the
truth. For every creature of God is good, and
nothing is to be refused if it is received with
thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word
of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren
in these things, you will be a good minister
of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith
and of the good doctrine which you have carefully
followed. But reject profane and old wives' fables,
and exercise yourself toward godliness, for bodily
exercise profits a little. But godliness is profitable
for all things, having promise of the life that
now is, and of that which is to come. This is
a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the
Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
These things command and teach. Let no one despise
your youth, but be an example to the believers
in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,
in purity. Till I come give attention to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the
gift that is in you, which was given to you by
prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the
eldership. Meditate on these things. Give yourself
entirely to them, that your progress may be evident
to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will
save both yourself and those who hear you. and
to repay their parents, for this is good and
acceptable before God. Now she who is really
a widow and left alone trusts in God and continues
in supplications and prayers night and day, but
she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives,
and these things command that they may be blameless.
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and
especially for those of his household, he has
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Do not let a widow under sixty years old, be
taken into the number. And not unless she has
been the wife of one man, well reported for good
works, if she has brought up children, if she
has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints'
feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she
has diligently followed every good work. But
refuse the younger widows, for when they have
begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire
to marry, having condemnation because they have
cast off their first faith. And besides, they
learn to be idle, wandering about from house
to house, and not only idle but also gossips
and busybodies, saying things which they ought
not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows
marry, bear children, manage the house, give
no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
For some have already turned aside after Satan.
If any believing man or woman has widows, let
them relieve them. And do not let the church
be burdened, that it may relieve those who are
really widows. Let the elders who rule well be
counted worthy of double honor, especially those
who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scripture
says, You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads
out the grain, and the laborer is worthy of his
wages. Do not receive an accusation against an
elder except from two or three witnesses. Those
who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all,
that the rest also may fear. I charge you before
God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels
that you observe these things without prejudice,
doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands
on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's
sins. Keep yourself pure. No longer drink only
water, but use a little wine for your stomach's
sake and your frequent infirmities. Some men's
sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment,
but those of some men follow later. Likewise,
the good works of some are clearly evident, and
those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. Let
as many bond -servants as are under the yoke
count their own masters worthy of all honor,
so that the name of God and His doctrine may
not be blasphemed. And those who have believing
masters, let them not despise them because they
are brethren. but rather serve them because those
who are benefited are believers and beloved.
Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches
otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed
with disputes and arguments over words, from
which come envy, strife, reviling. evil suspicions,
useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness
is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
Now godliness with contentment is great gain,
for we brought nothing into this world, and it
is certain we can carry nothing out. And having
food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare. and into many foolish and harmful
lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil, for which some have strayed from the
faith in their greediness and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows. But you, O man of
God, flee these things and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal
life, to which you were also called and have
confessed the good confession in the presence
of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of
God, who gives life to all things, and before
Christ Jesus, who witnessed the good confession
before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment
without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus
Christ's appearing, which he will manifest in
his own time. He who is the blessed and only
potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable
light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom
be honor and everlasting power. Ameen. Command
those who are rich in this present age not to
be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches
but in the living God, who gives us richly all
things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they
be rich in good works, ready to give. willing
to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation
for the time to come, that they may lay hold
on eternal life. O Timothy, guard what was committed
to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle
babblings and contradictions of what is falsely
called knowledge. By professing it, some have
strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you.
Ameen. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as
much as I did and I look forward to seeing you
again tomorrow to continue on our journey. God
bless you and have a great day.