And I wish you not to be ignorant, brethren, of them having been asleep, that ye should not grieve, as also the rest, they hating no hope.

And this say we unto you in the word of the Lord, that we which live and are remaining in the coming of the Lord, shall not come before they which sleep.

for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and by the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, resound the summons: they who died christians shall rise first:

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,

And regard them very highly, in a loving way, because of the work they do. You should live at peace with one another.

Unceasing thanks are due from us to God on your behalf, brethren. They are appropriate because your faith is growing greatly, and the love of every one of you for all the others goes on increasing.

They are proof positive of God's equity; you are suffering for the realm of God, and he means to make you worthy of it ??6 since God considers it but just to repay with trouble those who trouble you,

They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, being banished from the presence of the Lord and from His glorious majesty,

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.

Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

and the attention they bestow on mere fables and endless pedigrees, such as lead to controversy rather than to a true stewardship for God, which only exists where there is faith. And I make the same request now.

And it is because they have not aimed at these things that the attention of certain people has been diverted to unprofitable subjects.

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

These are the instructions that I intrust to you, my son Timothy, and they are in accordance with the predictions made long ago about you. Fight the good fight with their aid,

having faith and a good conscience, which some, [because they] have rejected [these], have suffered shipwreck concerning their faith,

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Now I want the men to offer prayer at any meeting of the church; and let the hands they lift to heaven be holy ??they must be free from anger and dissension.

Likewise also the women, that they array themselves in comely apparel with shamefastness, and discreet behavior, not with broided hair, other gold, or pearls, or costly array:

but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.

I do not allow women to teach or to domineer over men; they must keep quiet.

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Deacons likewise must be men worthy of respect [honorable, financially ethical, of good character], not double-tongued [speakers of half-truths], not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain,

but upholding and fully understanding the mystery [that is, the true doctrine] of the [Christian] faith with a clear conscience [resulting from behavior consistent with spiritual maturity].

And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

Their wives must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything.

Deacons are only to be married once, and they must manage their children and households properly.

For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Now the Holy Spirit specifically says that in later times [Note: "Later times" in the New Testament usually refers to the period following the first coming of Christ and the establishment of the church], some people will fall away from the faith [i.e., the true teaching of Christianity]. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits [i.e., lying people] and the teaching of evil spirits.

They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Therefore, I want the younger widows to get married, have children and manage their homes, so that they do not give the enemy [i.e., non-Christians] an opportunity for speaking against [the church].

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

and persistent wranglings on the part of people whose intellects are disordered and they themselves blinded to all knowledge of the truth; who imagine that godliness means gain.

we ought to think that sufficient. but they who will be rich, expose

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Timothy, guard what has been intrusted to you. Keep away from the worldly, empty phrases and contradictions of what they falsely call knowledge,

Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.

who have deviated from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they undermine the faith of some.

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,

[and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good,

traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God,

holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

You, however, must stand by what you learnt and accepted as true. You know who they were from whom you learnt it;

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

At my first defense, no one came to my [aid], but [they] all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

Men having a good record, husbands of one wife, whose children are of the faith, children of whom it may not be said that they are given to loose living or are uncontrolled.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

To the clean in heart all things are clean: but to those who are unclean and without faith nothing is clean; they become unclean in mind and in thought.

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Young men likewise exhort that they be sober minded.

let your words be sound and such that no exception can be taken to them, so that the opposite side may be confounded by finding nothing that they can say to our discredit.

Slaves should be in subjection to their own masters in everything. They should try hard to please them, without talking back

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Remind people that they must submit to the rulers who are in authority over them; that they must obey the magistrates, be prepared for every right action,

They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing.

And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

All they who are with me salute thee. Salute thou them who regard us with faithful affection. Favour, be with you all.

I pray that by their participation in your loyal faith they may have a vivid sense of how much good we Christians can attain.

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;