5 The aim of our charge is ^mlove that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a ⁿsincere faith.

8 I desire then that in every place the men should ⁿpray, lifting ^oholy hands without anger or ^pquarreling; 9 likewise also that ^qwomen should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and ^rself-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 ^sLet a woman learn quietly ^twith all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For ^uAdam was formed first, ^vthen Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but ^wthe woman was ^xdeceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved ^ythrough ^zchildbearing—if they continue in ^afaith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Qualifications for Overseers

1 ^bThe saying is trustworthy: ^cIf anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an ^doverseer¹ must be above reproach, ^ethe husband of one wife,² sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must ^fmanage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, ^ghow will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become ^hpuffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a ⁱsnare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 ^jDeacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,³ not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must ^khold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And ^llet them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise⁴ must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be ^mthe husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great ⁿconfidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 ^oI hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the ^phousehold of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we ^qconfess, is the mystery of godliness:

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

6 If you put these things before the brothers,¹ you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that ^kyou have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with ^lirreverent, silly ^mmyths. Rather ⁿtrain yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, ^ogodliness is of value in every way, ^pas it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 ^qThe saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,² because ^rwe have our hope set on the living God, ^swho is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 ^tCommand and ^uteach these things. 12 ^vLet no one despise you for your youth, but ^wset the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until ^xI come, devote yourself to the public ^yreading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, ^zwhich was given you by prophecy when the council of elders ^alaid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,³ so that all may see your ^bprogress. 16 ^cKeep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is ^gpleasing in the sight of God. 5 ^hShe who is truly a widow, left all alone, ⁱhas set her hope on God and ^jcontinues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has ^ldenied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

3 If anyone ^kteaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the ^lsound¹ words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^mthat accords with godliness, 4 he is ⁿpuffed up with conceit and ^ounderstands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^pcontroversy and for ^qquarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are ^rdepraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^simagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, O ^zman of God, ^aflee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the ^bgood fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good ^cconfession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I ^dcharge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his ^etestimony before¹ Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the ^fappearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

18 They are to do good, to be ^prich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus ^qstoring up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.