2 Thessalonians 3; 1 Timothy 1-2

1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.

2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.

3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

4And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.

7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

11For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.

12We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

13But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

14Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines

4or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.

5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

6Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk.

7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.

8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.

9We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,

10for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching

11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.

13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.

14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

16But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,

19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.

20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

2for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

7For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

8Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

9Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

10but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

11A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.

12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.

13For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.

14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

15Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.