THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO TIMOTHY

         St. Paul write this Epistle to his BELOVED TIMOTHY, being
         then bishop of Ephesus, to instruct him in the duties of a
         bishop, both in respect to himself and to his charge; and
         that he ought to be well informed of the good morals of
         those on whom he was to impose hands: Impose not hands
         lightly upon any man. He tells him also how he should
         behave towards his clergy. The Epistle was written about 33
         years after our Lord's Ascension; but where it was written
         is uncertain: the more general opinion is, that it was in
         Macedonia.

         1 Timothy Chapter 1

         He puts Timothy in mind of his charge and blesses God for
         the mercy he himself had received.

         1:1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the
         commandment of God our Saviour and Christ Jesus our hope:

         1:2. To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy and
         peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

         1:3. As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went
         into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach
         otherwise:

         1:4. Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
         which furnish questions rather than the edification of God
         which is in faith.

         1:5. Now the end of the commandment is charity from a pure
         heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.

         1:6. From which things some, going astray, are turned aside
         unto vain babbling:

         1:7. Desiring to be teachers of the law: understanding
         neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.

         1:8. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
         lawfully.

         1:9. Knowing this: That the law is not made for the just
         man but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly and
         for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of
         fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

         The law is not... He means, that the just man doth good,
         and avoideth evil, not as compelled by the law, and merely
         for fear of the punishment appointed for transgressors; but
         voluntarily, and out of the love of God and virtue; and
         would do so, though there were no law.

         1:10. For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with
         mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons,
         and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine:

         1:11. Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the
         blessed God which hath been committed to my trust.

         1:12. I give him thanks who hath strengthened me, even to
         Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he hath counted me
         faithful, putting me in the ministry:

         1:13. Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and
         contumelious. But I obtained the mercy of God, because I
         did it ignorantly in unbelief.

         1:14. Now the grace of our Lord hath abounded exceedingly
         with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

         1:15. A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
         that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
         whom I am the chief.

         1:16. But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me
         first Christ Jesus might shew forth all patience, for the
         information of them that shall believe in him unto life
         everlasting.

         1:17. Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the
         only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

         1:18. This precept, I commend to thee, O son Timothy:
         according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou
         war in them a good warfare,

         1:19. Having faith and a good conscience, which some
         rejecting have made shipwreck concerning the faith.

         1:20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have
         delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to
         blaspheme.

         1 Timothy Chapter 2

         Prayers are to be said for all men, because God wills the
         salvation of all. Women are not to teach.

         2:1. I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications,
         prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all
         men:

         2:2. For kings and for all that are in high station: that
         we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and
         chastity.

         2:3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
         our Saviour,

         2:4. Who will have all men to be saved and to come to the
         knowledge of the truth.

         2:5. For there is one God: and one mediator of God and men,
         the man Christ Jesus:

         One mediator... Christ is the one and only mediator of
         redemption, who gave himself, as the apostle writes in the
         following verse.

         2:6. Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in
         due times.

         a redemption for all.... He is also the only mediator, who
         stands in need of no other to recommend his petitions to
         the Father. But this is not against our seeking the prayers
         and intercession, as well of the faithful upon earth, as of
         the saints and angels in heaven, for obtaining mercy,
         grace, and salvation, through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul
         himself often desired the help of the prayers of the
         faithful, without any injury to the mediatorship of Jesus
         Christ.

         2:7. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle (I
         say the truth, I lie not), a doctor of the Gentiles in
         faith and truth.

         2:8. I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting
         up pure hands, without anger and contention.

         2:9. In like manner, women also in decent apparel: adorning
         themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited
         hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire:

         2:10. But, as it becometh women professing godliness, with
         good works.

         2:11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

         2:12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use
         authority over the man: but to be in silence.

         2:13.For Adam was first formed; then Eve.

         2:14. And Adam was not seduced; but the woman, being
         seduced, was in the transgression.

         2:15. Yet she shall be saved through child bearing; if she
         continue in faith and love and sanctification with
         sobriety.

         1 Timothy Chapter 3

         What sort of men are to be admitted into the clergy. The
         church is the pillar of truth.

         3:1. A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a
         bishop, he desireth good work.

         3:2. It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the
         husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour,
         chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,

         Of one wife.... The meaning is not that every bishop should
         have a wife (for St. Paul himself had none), but that no
         one should be admitted to the holy orders of bishop,
         priest, or deacon, who had been married more than once.

         3:3. Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not
         quarrelsome, not covetous, but

         3:4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his
         children in subjection with all chastity.

         3:5. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how
         shall he take care of the church of God?

         3:6. Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he
         fall into the judgment of the devil.

         A neophyte.... That is, one lately baptized, a young
         convert.

         3:7. Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who
         are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of
         the devil.

         3:8. Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued,
         not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

         3:9. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.

         3:10. And let these also first be proved: and so let them
         minister, having no crime.

         3:11. The women in like manner: chaste, not slanderers, but
         sober, faithful in all things.

         3:12. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife: who rule
         well their children and their own houses.

         3:13. For they that have ministered well shall purchase to
         themselves a good degree and much confidence in the faith
         which is in Christ Jesus.

         3:14. These things I write to thee, hoping that I shall
         come to thee shortly.

         3:15. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou
         oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is
         the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
         truth.

         The pillar and ground of the truth.... Therefore the church
         of the living God can never uphold error, nor bring in
         corruptions, superstition, or idolatry.

         3:16. And evidently great is the mystery of godliness,
         which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the
         spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the
         Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.

         1 Timothy Chapter 4

         He warns him against heretics, and exhorts him to the
         exercise of piety.

         4:1. Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times
         some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of
         error and doctrines of devils,

         4:2. Speaking lies in hypocrisy and having their conscience
         seared,

         4:3. Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God
         hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the
         faithful and by them that have known the truth.

         Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats.... He speaks of
         the Gnostics, the Marcionites, the Eneratites, the
         Manicheans, and other ancient heretics, who absolutely
         condemned marriage, and the use of all kind of meat;
         because they pretended that all flesh was from an evil
         principle. Whereas the church of God, so far from
         condemning marriage, holds it a holy sacrament; and forbids
         it to none but such as by vow have chosen the better part:
         and prohibits not the use of any meats whatsoever in proper
         times and seasons; though she does not judge all kind of
         diet proper for days of fasting and penance.

         4:4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
         rejected that is received with thanksgiving:

         4:5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

         4:6. These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be
         a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words
         of faith and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained
         unto.

         4:7. But avoid foolish and old wives fables: and exercise
         thyself unto godliness.

         4:8. For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but
         godliness 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 God, 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 chastity.

         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
         chastity.

         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 God.

         5:5. But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her
         trust in God 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 damnation, 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 God 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 godliness,

         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
         destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness.

         6:6. But godliness 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 God, fly these things: and pursue
         justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness.

         6:12. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal
         life, whereunto thou art called and be it confessed a good
         confession before many witnesses.

         6:13. I charge thee before God who quickeneth all things,
         and before Christ Jesus who gave testimony under Pontius
         Pilate, a good confession:

         6:14. That thou keep the commandment without spot,
         blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

         6:15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the Blessed
         and only Mighty, the King of kings and Lord of lords:

         6:16. Who only hath immortality and inhabiteth light
         inaccessible: whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom
         be honour and empire everlasting. Amen.

         6:17. Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded
         nor to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the
         living God (who giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy)

         6:18. To do good, to be rich in good work, to give easily,
         to communicate to others,

         6:19. To lay up in store for themselves a good foundation
         against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the
         true life.

         6:20. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust,
         avoiding the profane novelties of words and oppositions of
         knowledge falsely so called.

         6:21. Which some promising, have erred concerning the
         faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The text in this file was taken with permission from Catholic Software's Douay Bible program, a complete multimedia Bible for the PC. The complete product description follows:

Douay Bible ME: A multimedia Bible. Text and footnotes are from the 1899 version of the Douay-Rheims Bible. Supports unlimited cut and paste as well as searches. It also has a concordance, topical index, and maps. These features make it powerful and easy to use. Music and color photography make it a visual and auditory feast. However, if your computer doesn't support multimedia, you can suppress these features at installation time. Available for DOS, Windows, or Windows 95. $85.00. Order from: Catholic Software, P.O. Box 1914, Murray, KY 42071. Phone: 1-502-753-8198.