4:7. But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise thyself unto G.o.dliness.
4:8. For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but G.o.dliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
4:9. A faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
4:10. For therefore we labour and are reviled, because we hope in the living G.o.d, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.
4:11. These things command and teach:
4:12. Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chast.i.ty.
4:13. Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and to doctrine.
4:14. Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.
4:15. Meditate upon these things, be wholly in these things: that thy profiting may be manifest to all.
4:16. Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy Chapter 5
He gives him lessons concerning widows, and how he is to behave to his clergy.
5:1. An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren:
5:2. Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chast.i.ty.
5:3. Honour widows that are widows indeed.
5:4. But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house and to make a return of duty to her parents; for this is acceptable before G.o.d.
5:5. But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in G.o.d and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.
5:6. For she that liveth in pleasures is dead while she is living.
5:7. And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.
5:8. But if any man have not care of his own and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
5:9. Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.
5:11. But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:
5:12. Having d.a.m.nation, because they have made void their first faith.
Their first faith.... Their vow, by which they had engaged themselves to Christ.
5:13. And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not.
5:14. I will, therefore, that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.
5:15. For some are already turned aside after Satan.
5:16. If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
5:17. Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
5:18. For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
5:19. Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
5:20. Them that sin reprove before all that the rest also may have fear.
5:21. I charge thee, before G.o.d and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.
5:22. Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men"s sins. Keep thyself chaste.
5:23. Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach"s sake and thy frequent infirmities.
5:24. Some men"s sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.
5:25. In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Timothy Chapter 6
Duties of servants. The danger of covetousness. Lessons for the rich.
6:1. Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count their masters worthy of all honour; lest the name of the Lord and his doctrine be blasphemed.
6:2. But they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but serve them the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who are partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
6:3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to that doctrine which is according to G.o.dliness,
6:4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions,
6:5. Conflicts of men corrupted in mind and who are dest.i.tute of the truth, supposing gain to be G.o.dliness.
6:6. But G.o.dliness with contentment is great gain.
6:7. For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly we can carry nothing out.
6:8. But having food and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content.
6:9. For they that will become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition.
6:10. For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.
6:11. But thou, O man of G.o.d, fly these things: and pursue justice, G.o.dliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness.