5 The aim of our charge is love ^lthat issues from a pure heart and ^ma good conscience and ⁿa sincere faith.

8 I desire then that ^jin every place the men should pray, ^klifting ^lholy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also ^mthat women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 ⁿbut with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly ^owith all submissiveness. 12 ^pI do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 ^qFor Adam was formed first, ^rthen Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but ^sthe woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through ^tchildbearing—if they continue in ^ufaith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Qualifications for Overseers

1 The saying is ^vtrustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^wthe office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore ^xan overseer¹ must be above reproach, ^ythe husband of one wife,^{2 z}sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, ^ahospitable, ^bable to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but ^cgentle, not quarrelsome, ^dnot a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity ^ekeeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for ^wGod’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may ^fbecome puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^goutsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^ha snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

8 ⁱDeacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^{3 j}not addicted to much wine, ^knot greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must ^lhold the mystery of the faith with ^ma clear conscience. 10 And ⁿlet them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 ^oTheir wives likewise⁴ must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^pfaithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be ^qthe husband of one wife, ^qmanaging their children and their own households well. 13 For ^rthose who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I 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 household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

6 ⁱIf 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 you have ^jfollowed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, ^ksilly myths. Rather ^ltrain yourself for godliness; 8 for while ^mbodily training is of some value, godliness ⁿis of value in every way, as ^oit holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is ^ptrustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive,² because we have our hope set on the living God, ^qwho is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach ^rthese things. 12 ^sLet no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers ^tan example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 ^uDo not neglect the gift you have, which was given you ^vby prophecy when the council of elders ^wlaid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them,³ so that ^xall may see your progress. 16 ^yKeep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save ^zboth yourself and ^ayour hearers.

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

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

3 If anyone ^steaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^tthe sound¹ words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^uthat accords with godliness, 4 ^vhe is puffed up with conceit and ^wunderstands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^xcontroversy and for ^yquarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people ^zwho are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^aimagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, ^jO man of God, ^kflee these things. ^lPursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 ^mFight the good fight of the faith. ⁿTake hold of the eternal life ^oto which you were called and about which you made ^pthe good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 ^qI charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, ^rwho in his testimony before¹ Pontius Pilate made ^pthe good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until ^sthe appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

18 They are to do good, ^fto be rich in good works, to be generous and ^gready to share, 19 thus ^hstoring up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may ⁱtake hold of ^jthat which is truly life.