¹Paul, an Apostle of the Anointed Jesus by the authorization of God (our Savior) and of the Anointed Jesus (our hope), ²to Timothy (a genuine child in the faith):May you find loving care, mercy, and peace from God our Father,^[Syr] and [from] the Anointed Jesus, our Lord!³[Timothy, please] stay in Ephesus like I’d encouraged you to do, while I travel on to Macedonia, because I want you to give orders to some who are there not to be teaching anything different ⁴or paying attention to myths and genealogies... Because there’s no end to these things, they only cause disputes, and they don’t build up Faith in God either!⁵Instead, what I want you to [encourage them to do] is to love [each other] with a clean heart and a good conscience, and to develop a faith that isn’t judgmental.⁶Since, because of what they’re teaching, some are being misled into foolish discussions. ⁷And even though they want to be teachers of the [Jewish] Law, they don’t have any idea what they’re talking about, and they don’t understand the effects that all of this will have.⁸Now, we know that the [Jewish] Law is good… As long as it’s used for legal purposes...⁹But recognize that the [Jewish] Law wasn’t laid out for the righteous, but for the lawless and undisciplined, the godless and sinners, the disloyal and unclean, those who’d slap their fathers and mothers, the murderers, ¹⁰those who hire prostitutes, the men who have sex with men, the presumptuous, the liars and promise breakers, and all the rest who go against the wholesome teachings ¹¹that come from the glorious good news that our Blest God has entrusted to us.¹²I feel so grateful to the Anointed Jesus (our Lord) who’s considered me faithful, given me this authority, and made me his servant ¹³[despite the fact that] I used to be a slanderer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.However, I was just ignorant and I acted [that way] because I didn’t believe… And then I was shown mercy ¹⁴by the loving-kindness of our Lord, through the faith and love of the Anointed Jesus.¹⁵Therefore, when we say that the Anointed Jesus came into the world to save sinners... These words are faithful and deserve to be believed, because I was the foremost of them!¹⁶And the reason why I was shown mercy was so that the Anointed Jesus might demonstrate all of his patience and use me as a prime example of someone who can still put faith in him and receive age-long life.¹⁷So, to the King of the Ages [who’s] incorruptible and invisible (the only God), may there be honor and glory into the ages of ages…May it be so!¹⁸Now, this is the responsibility that I’m laying upon you, my son Timothy:As those earlier prophecies about you foretold (that you would fight in a good war), ¹⁹hang onto your faith and good conscience… Because some have pushed theirs aside and experienced [spiritual] shipwreck.²⁰This includes Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I’ve handed over to the Opposer so they can be taught not to blaspheme.

¹[Timothy,] first I’m encouraging you to beg for, to pray for, to ask on behalf of, and to give thanks for all sorts of men ²(for kings and for all those in high offices) so that we can just go on living a calm and quiet life, devoutly and seriously... ³For this is something that’s good and acceptable in the eyes of our Savior, God – ⁴because He wants all men to be saved and to come to a complete knowledge of the truth.⁵Understand that there’s just one God, and there’s just one mediator between God and men… A man, the Anointed Jesus. ⁶For he offered himself as the ransom price on behalf of everyone at just the right time, in proof of this [fact].⁷Yes, this is the reason why I was made a preacher, an Apostle (I’m not lying, I’m telling the truth), and a teacher to the other races about the Faith and the Truth!⁸So, I’m praying that all men everywhere might raise their hands in holiness and set aside their anger and their arguments.⁹Likewise, the women’s clothing should be modest, respectable, and sensible; not with fancy hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive clothes. ¹⁰But instead, [their fancy clothing] should be good works – something befitting women who say that they fear God.¹¹Let a woman [or, wife] learn quietly and obediently. ¹²Indeed, I don’t argue^[Syr] that a woman [should] teach – nor [that she should] domineer^[Syr] a man; rather, stop it. ¹³For Adam was created first, then Eve. ¹⁴Also, Adam wasn’t seduced, but the woman was seduced and then broke the commandment.¹⁵However, she’ll be sustained by her children – as long as they[, that is, her children] remain in the Faith in love, holiness, and sensibleness. [see translator note]

¹You can believe that whenever anyone desires eldership,^[Syr] he’s seeking a good work.²However, an elder^[Syr] must be [someone who] hasn’t been charged [with misconduct]… He must be a one-woman man who’s moderate in his habits, sensible, orderly, friendly to strangers, and a teacher.³He shouldn’t be someone who drinks lots of wine or is quarrelsome, but [someone who’s] gentle and peaceable, and not a lover of money.⁴He should also be a good manager of his own family and have children who obey him in all dignity... ⁵Because if any man doesn’t know how to manage his own house, how can he care for the congregation of God?⁶He can’t be a newly-converted man, in case he gets too proud and falls into the [same] judgment as the Slanderer.⁷Also, those outside [the congregation] should speak well of him, so he doesn’t fall into the Slanderer’s reproach and snares.⁸Likewise, servants should be serious, not deceitful or excessive drinkers, and not looking for easy money.⁹Instead, they should hold onto the mystery of the faith with a clean conscience. ¹⁰Let them prove themselves first, and if they do well, you may allow them to serve.¹¹Women should likewise be serious and not slanderous, but moderate in their habits and faithful in everything.¹²Servants should be one-woman men who are managing their own households and their children well. ¹³Indeed, those who serve well will gain [both] confidence and a good standing in the faith that’s in the Anointed Jesus.¹⁴I’m writing these things to you (although I’m hoping to come to you shortly), ¹⁵so that if I’m delayed, you’ll know how you should conduct yourself in God’s household (the Congregation of the living God) – as a pillar and supporter of the truth.¹⁶Admittedly, our sacred devotion is a great mystery...For he was shown in the flesh, He was found righteous in spirit, He was seen by [God’s] messengers, He was preached about among the nations, He was believed in the world, And then he was taken up in glory!

¹However, the Spirit definitely says that some will leave the faith in the future and pay attention to wicked spirits and the teachings of demons, ²as well as to hypocritical men who are liars and whose consciences are seared as with branding irons.³These will forbid marrying and the eating of food that God created to be eaten appreciatively by everyone who has faith and understands the truth ⁴(for everything that God created is good, and nothing should be thrown away). So if we thank Him for it, ⁵it becomes holy by what we say to God in our prayers.⁶So if you’ll explain these things to the brothers, you’ll prove yourself a fine servant of the Anointed Jesus, and [you’ll] grow strong on the words of the Faith and the fine teachings that you’ve been following so closely.⁷You must avoid worldly fables and old-wives’ tales, and train yourself to be a truly reverent person... ⁸For even though physical exercise does some good, learning reverence [for God] is good for all things! It holds the promise of life – both now, and into that which is coming.⁹Yes, what I’m saying is trustworthy and deserves [your special] attention, ¹⁰for this is why we’ve been struggling and working so hard as we’ve continued to put faith in a living God who is the Savior of all men – but mostly of the faithful.¹¹So, instruct and teach…¹²And don’t allow anyone to look down on you because you’re young! Instead, become an example to the faithful in what you say, in what you do, in your love, in your faith, and in your purity!¹³Until I get there, work at public reading, at giving council, and on your teaching abilities.¹⁴Don’t be careless with the gift in you, which was given through a prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you.¹⁵Think deeply about these things… Get wrapped up in them, so that everyone can see the progress that you’re making.¹⁶Yes, pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching, and stick with it! For if you do that, you’ll save both yourself and those who are listening to you!

¹Don’t be too harsh with older men… Speak to them as you would to fathers, to younger men as brothers, ²to older women as mothers, and to younger women as sisters, with all purity.³Show honor to the widows who are really living as widows.⁴However, if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn the lesson of how to show deep respect inside their own families – by paying what they owe to their parents and grandparents… For in God’s sight, that’s the right thing to do.⁵Now, a [truly-worthy] widow is one who’s been left on her own, and because she puts her hope in God, she keeps begging Him in her prayers both night and day.⁶However, [a widow] who lives alone for pleasure is already ‘dead’ while she’s still alive.⁷So you must always teach them this, so they’ll be found blameless:⁸‘If you don’t provide for [those who are] your own (especially for those in your own households), you’ve denied the faith and you’re worse than an unbeliever!’⁹However, put a widow on the list if:• She’s more than 60 years old, • She’s had just one husband, ¹⁰• She’s done good things that can be attested to, • She’s raised children, • She’s been hospitable, • She’s washed the feet of the Holy Ones, • She’s provided for those in difficulty, • She’s followed the course of doing all sorts of good deeds.¹¹On the other hand, turn down younger widows...For when they feel the need, they leave the Anointed One because they want to marry! ¹²And they’re judged for doing this, because they set aside the faith that they had at first, ¹³while learning wasteful habits such as going around and doing a lot of visiting.They not only waste time, they also gossip, meddle in other people’s affairs, and talk about things that they shouldn’t.¹⁴I prefer to see younger widows marry, have children, and manage a home. That way, the Opposer isn’t given something over which he can gleefully gloat... ¹⁵Yet, some of them have already turned to following the Slanderer.¹⁶So if any believing woman has a widow [in her family], she should take care of this herself, so that the congregation won’t have to handle the burden and can then help those [truly in need].¹⁷Also, let the elders who take the lead in a fine way be considered as worthy of a double honor… Especially those who work hard at speaking and teaching!¹⁸For the Scriptures tell us:‘You shouldn’t muzzle a bull when it’s threshing grain.’ [Deuteronomy 25:4]And that a worker deserves his pay! [reference to Deuteronomy 24:15]¹⁹[Also, don’t] accept an accusation against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses. ²⁰However, you should expose those whom you find guilty of sins before all onlookers, so the rest will be afraid [of doing such things].²¹Before God, the Anointed Jesus, and the chosen messengers, I solemnly charge you to follow these instructions!However, don’t reach any conclusions before you’ve heard all the evidence, and never decide because you’re biased one way or the other.²²Also, don’t be too quick to [appoint] any man [to a responsibility], so you aren’t found to be a sharer in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure!²³And don’t just drink water, instead you might take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and for your frequent illnesses.²⁴[Remember that] the sins of some people are done in the open and lead directly to judgment. However, the [sins] of the rest will eventually become known... ²⁵For just as many good deeds become widely known, [sins] can’t be kept hidden either.

¹Now, those who are in bondage as slaves should treat their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the Name of God and our teachings won’t be slandered.²And those who have believing owners shouldn’t think less of them because they’re brothers. Rather, they should zealously serve them as slaves, because those who work hard are considered faithful and are loved in return.Keep on teaching these things and giving them this encouragement!³Now, if anyone is teaching something different and doesn’t follow these life-giving words (which are those of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One), or doesn’t teach deep respect for God... ⁴He’s just blowing smoke, he doesn’t understand anything, and he’s ill with arguing and debating over words… It results in envy, arguing, slandering, wicked suspicions, ⁵and conflict between men with corrupt minds who’ve let themselves be robbed of the truth… And they’re the same ones who say that we should earn a profit from this worship! But you, keep yourself away from them!⁶Of course, we do gain much ‘profit’ from this worship… That is, if we pay our own way. ⁷For none of us brought anything into the world and we can’t carry anything out!⁸So if we have enough to eat and enough to wear, we should be satisfied with that.⁹However, those who want to be rich fall into temptation, snares, and many foolish and damaging desires, which drag people down into destruction and ruin…¹⁰For the love of money is the root of everything that’s bad.And because some have reached out for it, they’ve been led away from the faith and into error, stabbing themselves all over and causing themselves a lot of pain.¹¹But you, O man of God – flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, reverence, faith, love, endurance, and humility.¹²Yes, fight this fine contest of the faith. Also, seize this age-long life to which you were called – about which you offered such a fine confession before so many witnesses!¹³I’m ordering you in the sight of The God (who’s saving all), and of the Anointed Jesus (who gave such a fine testimony before Pontius Pilate), ¹⁴to obey these instructions flawlessly and blamelessly until the appearance of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One ¹⁵whom God^[Syr] will reveal at his time.Yes, the only praised and only sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords.¹⁶The only one who can’t perish, And who lives in unapproachable light.The one whom no man has seen or can see, May he have honor, and age-long power.May it be so!¹⁷Also, give orders to those who are rich in this age not to think too much of themselves, and not to trust in their wealth (which is fickle), but in God who brings [the type of] wealth to us that we can truly enjoy.¹⁸[Yes, teach them to] work at being good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and ready to share... ¹⁹while they safely store away for themselves the treasures of a fine foundation in that which is coming, so they can put on the real life.²⁰O Timothy,Guard this hope and turn away from all the worldly babbling, as well as everything falsely called ‘knowledge.’ ²¹Because it’s through [such things] that some who once showed much promise in the faith have been turned aside.May [God’s] loving care be with you.May it be so!