The Living Bible (381 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas.
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These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences won’t even bother them.
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They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat meat, even though God gave these things to well-taught Christians to enjoy and be thankful for.
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For everything God made is good, and we may eat it gladly if we are thankful for it,
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and if we ask God to bless it, for it is made good by the Word of God and prayer.
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If you explain this to the others you will be doing your duty as a worthy pastor who is fed by faith and by the true teaching you have followed.
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Don’t waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit.
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Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too.
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This is the truth and everyone should accept it. We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe it, for our hope is in the living God who died for all, and particularly for those who have accepted his salvation.
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Teach these things and make sure everyone learns them well.
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Don’t let anyone think little of you because you are young. Be their ideal; let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts.
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Until I get there, read and explain the Scriptures to the church; preach God’s Word.
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Be sure to use the abilities God has given you through his prophets when the elders of the church laid their hands upon your head.
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Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone may notice your improvement and progress.
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Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others.
Never speak sharply to an older man, but plead with him respectfully just as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to much-loved brothers.
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Treat the older women as mothers, and the girls as your sisters, thinking only pure thoughts about them.
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The church should take loving care of women whose husbands have died if they don’t have anyone else to help them.
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But if they have children or grandchildren, these are the ones who should take the responsibility, for kindness should begin at home, supporting needy parents. This is something that pleases God very much.
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The church should care for widows who are poor and alone in the world if they are looking to God for his help and spending much time in prayer;
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but not if they are spending their time running around gossiping, seeking only pleasure and thus ruining their souls.
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This should be your church rule so that the Christians will know and do what is right.
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But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.
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A widow who wants to become one of the special church workers
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should be at least sixty years old and have been married only once.
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She must be well thought of by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers as well as to other Christians? Has she helped those who are sick and hurt? Is she always ready to show kindness?
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The younger widows should not become members of this special group because after a while they are likely to disregard their vow to Christ and marry again.
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And so they will stand condemned because they broke their first promise.
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Besides, they are likely to be lazy and spend their time gossiping around from house to house, getting into other people’s business.
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So I think it is better for these younger widows to marry again and have children and take care of their own homes; then no one will be able to say anything against them.
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For I am afraid that some of them have already turned away from the church and been led astray by Satan.
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Let me remind you again that a widow’s relatives must take care of her and not leave this to the church to do. Then the church can spend its money for the care of widows who are all alone and have nowhere else to turn.
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Pastors who do their work well should be paid well and should be highly appreciated, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
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For the Scriptures say, “Never tie up the mouth of an ox when it is treading out the grain—let him eat as he goes along!” And in another place,
“Those who work deserve their pay!”
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Don’t listen to complaints against the pastor unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.
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If he has really sinned, then he should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that no one else will follow his example.
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I solemnly command you in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and of the holy angels to do this whether the pastor is a special friend of yours or not. All must be treated exactly the same.
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Never be in a hurry about choosing a pastor; you may overlook his sins, and it will look as if you approve of them. Be sure that you yourself stay away from all sin.
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(By the way, this doesn’t mean you should completely give up drinking wine. You ought to take a little sometimes as medicine for your stomach because you are sick so often.)
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Remember that some men, even pastors, lead sinful lives, and everyone knows it. In such situations you can do something about it. But in other cases only the judgment day will reveal the terrible truth.
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In the same way, everyone knows how much good some pastors do, but sometimes their good deeds aren’t known until long afterward.
Christian slaves should work hard for their owners and respect them; never let it be said that Christ’s people are poor workers. Don’t let the name of God or his teaching be laughed at because of this.
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If their owner is a Christian, that is no excuse for slowing down; rather they should work all the harder because a brother in the faith is being helped by their efforts.
Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage all to obey them.
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Some may deny these things, but they are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and are the foundation for a godly life.
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Anyone who says anything different is both proud and stupid. He is quibbling over the meaning of Christ’s words and stirring up arguments ending in jealousy and anger, which only lead to name-calling, accusations, and evil suspicions.
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These arguers—their minds warped by sin—don’t know how to tell the truth; to them the Good News is just a means of making money. Keep away from them.
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Do you want to be truly rich? You already are if you are happy and good.
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After all, we didn’t bring any money with us when we came into the world, and we can’t carry away a single penny when we die.
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So we should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing.
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But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself.
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For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows.
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O Timothy, you are God’s man. Run from all these evil things, and work instead at what is right and good, learning to trust him and love others and to be patient and gentle.
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Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you and that you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses.
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I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a fearless testimony before Pontius Pilate,
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that you fulfill all he has told you to do so that no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
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For in due season Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only Almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
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who alone can never die, who lives in light so terrible that no human being can approach him. No mere man has ever seen him nor ever will. Unto him be honor and everlasting power and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
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Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them.
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By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.
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Oh, Timothy, don’t fail to do these things that God entrusted to you. Keep out of foolish arguments with those who boast of their “knowledge” and thus prove their lack of it.
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Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God. May God’s mercy be upon you.
Sincerely, Paul