Paul's First Letter to Timothy
1 Timothy 1
1. I, Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, by the command of the God who gave us Life and the Messiah Jesus who gave us the Hope [of the Kingdom,]
2. To Timothy, the faithful son of faith, grace, mercy and peace be upon you from God our Father and the Messiah Jesus our Lord.
3. As I am going to Macedonia, I want you to stay at Ephesus, to command certain people that they should not teach an alternative doctrine,
4. And not to cast themselves into the offerings and tribal traditions that are devoid of sanctity, those that destroyed us in slavery moreover and did not nurture us in the faith of God.
5. The sanctity of the commandment, then, is love, that which is from a pure heart, good conscience and true faith.
6. And leaving those, they went out to mislead people and emphasize empty words,
7. As they wanted to become teachers of the Law, while they neither understand what they are talking about, nor what they are discarding.
8. We know, however, that the Law is beautiful if a human being is found going according to it.
9. As it is known that the Law was not consecrated for righteousness, except for abominations and desolation, for the licentious, the sinners and the accursed and those who are impure and those who beat their fathers and those who beat their mothers, and the killers,
10. And the fornicators and the molesters of male children and the abductors of the free and the liars and the oath breakers, and for everything that is in opposition to the wholesome knowledge,
11. So as the Revelation of God's glory may be blessed in Whom I have faith.
12. And I confess that He has empowered me, our Lord Jesus Christ, who reckoned me faithful and consecrated me for his service,
13. To me, who was before blaspheming, casting out [the faithful] and cursing them, I was nevertheless marked by Him, as I knew not what I was doing, being without faith.
14. The grace of our Lord, however, was augmented in me, and likewise the faith and love of Jesus Christ.
15. Faithful is that Manifestation and deserving is He to be received, that Jesus Christ came to the universe to bring back to Life sinners, of whom I am a prime example.*
16. Except because of it He took mercy on me, so that through me Jesus Christ would show the outpouring of His Spirit for the eyes of those who were destined to believe in Him, to receive through Him Life to [the end of] the universe.
17. To the King of all the universes, then, to Him who is immutable* and invisible, Who is the One God -- honor and glory to the end of the universe of all the universes, amen.
18. The commandment I pass on to you, my son, Timothy, according to the first prophesies that were upon you, that you may extend to them those beautiful exercises,
19. Through faith and good conscience, for they that fell away from them became empty of faith,
20. Like Hymenaeus and Alexander, those that were handed over to Satan, to be rid of, so as they may not blaspheme us.
*1:15 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Before whom I am I."
*1:17 The ancient Aramaic word is a direct reference to Jesus Christ having not decomposed in the tomb.
1 Timothy 2
1. I beg you thus, that before everything, a prayer should be offered to God, and a prayer on your knees, dedication to and a celebration of faith on behalf of all humanity,
2. On behalf of kings and rulers, that we may reside in peace and quiet in complete submission to God and in purity.
3. For this is beautiful and acceptable before God our Life-giver,
4. He who wishes that all humanity should live the everlasting life and return to the knowledge of the truth.
5. For one is God and one is the reconciler of God and humanity -- Jesus Christ the Son of Man,*
6. He who gave himself as Savior for every human being, a Testimony that comes in Her* season,
7. That for Whom I was consecrated a preacher and apostle, that I speak of in earnest and I do not lie, that I have become the teacher of the nations in the true faith.
8. I wish then wherever men pray on their knees that they neither raise their hands in anger, nor in pretense, but in purity.
9. Likewise the women also should reaffirm that testimony while dressed modestly, in comely and sedate fashion, not with golden threads braided in their hair or with pearls or beautiful new clothes;
10. Except with charitable acts that adorn their people, let them declare their submission to God.
11. A wife should learn quietly during all worship.
12. For I neither advocate the wife to be a teacher, nor to order her husband around, except she should be serene.*
13. For Adam was molded first and then Eve.
14. And Adam did not mislead her, however it was the wife that misled him and transgressed the commandment.
15. She Lives then through her children, if they be strengthened* in faith, love, holiness and modesty.
*2:5 With this verse Paul closes the theological gap between the Manifestations of God that he's been building up in his Letters. He presents the Manifestations as One God in their eternal state of being and essence.
*2:6 Reference to the holy Spirit.
*2:12 We will see that this advice was specific to the role of the wives during church service.
*2:15 Lit. Ar. idiom retained: "Are nurtured." I believe she seized the role of bringing forth children and was thus made responsible for what that role entailed, namely their spiritual upbringing.
1 Timothy 3
1. Faithful is the manifestation, that if a person likes the priesthood, they should like good deeds.
2.And someone should not become a priest if he swears;* he should be the husband of one wife -- someone who guards his opinion, is modest, follows doctrine and is kind to strangers -- and a teacher.
3. Neither should he over indulge in wine, nor his hand should hasten to strike, except he should be gentle, neither trying, nor show mercy only when given money,*
4. He should take care of his house well,* and worship with his children in total devotion and purity.
5. For if he cannot take care of his house well, how can he take care of the church of God?
6. And his discipline should not be shallow, so as he may not rise and fall with the judgment of Satan.
7. It is his duty, however, that he should also have a beautiful testimony from the wilderness,* so as he may not fall in the worship and the traps of Satan.
8. And likewise the deacons should be pure, and they should neither engage in double talk, nor over-indulge in too much wine, nor be graceful toward contributions from evil-doers,
9. Except they should conduct the sermon of faith with a clear conscience.
10. These things they should adhere to beforehand and then they should conduct the service, while they are no longer at odds.
11. Likewise also the women [deacons,] should be modest and guarded in their opinions, and they should be faithful in all things and not devilish.
12. They should be deacons whereas they are the wives of one man, and they should conduct their children and their homes beautifully.
13. For those that do well as [women] deacons shall attain high positions* for themselves and they shall reveal the many facets of faith in Jesus Christ.
14. I wrote you this Letter expecting to visit you soon.
15. The fact that I have been delayed is so it should be known what is befitting the return to the house of God, that which is the church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of Truth.
16. And truly great is this sermon of righteousness that:He was revealed in the Flesh,
...sanctified by the Spirit
......and seen by the angels,
And He shall be preached among the nations,*
...believed by the universe
......and exalted in glory.
*3:2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Unless oaths are not found in him."
*3:3 Lit. Ar. expression: "Merciful to currency."
*3:4 Lit. Ar. expression: "Fetch his home beautifully."
*3:7 Reference to fasting and prayer, Christ's 40 days in the wilderness, like the Jews' 40 years in the wilderness with Moses -- every Christian should be purified through this process, especially the priesthood.
*3:13 Lit. Ar. expression: "Good degrees."
*3:16 All the nations and not just the Roman and Greek pagans, as is implied by "Gentiles" in Western Bibles.
1 Timothy 4
1. The Spirit has plainly declared that in the final seasons people will terminate each others faith,* and they will follow annihilating spirits and demonic theories,
2. Those that mislead through false logic and the philosophy of lies and dark consciences,
3. And they prevent marriages and restrict eating, those things that God created to be acceptable for the celebration of faith, for those people that are faithful and knowing of truth.
4. Because whatever was created for God is beautiful, and there is nothing denigrated, if it is consecrated in the celebration of faith.
5. For it is hallowed by the Manifestation of God and through prayer.
6. If you teach these things to your brethren, you shall be the faithful servant* of Jesus Christ, as you shall nurture others in the doctrines of faith and in the knowledge of grace that you were taught.
7. Alight from the unseasoned holocausts of the ancestors and train yourself in the discourse of righteousness.
8. For the training of the body adds flavor only for a short season, righteousness however flavors all things and heralds life everlasting, in this life and the Life that is destined to come.
9. Faithful is then that Manifestation,* and worthy is She of acceptance.
10. It is because of that then that we offered devotion and worshipped so as we may proffer the hope of the Living God who is the Life-giver* for all humanity, moreover especially those who are believers.
11. Teach these as a commandment.*
12. And let no human being get you old [and rob you of] your youthfulness, except be an example for the believers through the Manifestation, and through dogged concern, love, faithfulness and purity.
13. Until I come, strive in the calling, in prayer and teaching.
14. And do not allow the endowment vouchsafed you to become old, that which was given to you through prophesy and the ordination of priesthood.
15. Analyze these things and live by them, so that these qualities will become a known fact before every human being, that you are who you are.
16. And be cognizant about yourself and your teachings and become learned in them, as you perform your duties accordingly, Living yourself and [proffering the Life] to those who listen to you.
*4:1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Will end human human from faithfulness."
*4:6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Zealous minister."
*4:9 Reference to the endowment of the holy Spirit.
*4:10 Lit. Ar. id.: "Savior."
*4:11 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Teach this and command."
1 Timothy 5
1. Do not yell at a priest, except treat him like a father, and the young boys like your brothers.
2. And treat the women priests like your mothers, and the young girls like your sisters with all purity.
3. Respect the widows, those who are truly widows.*
4. And if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn before everything else that children should observe their home as holy, and they should pay homage to their parents, for this is acceptable before God.
5. This then when she is truly a widow and Christ's missionary, this is the hope for God and her affirmation in kneeling and praying by night and day.
6. If, however, she is disloyal, she is dead while living.
7. This then you should instruct them with, so as they should not be hostile.
8. And if a human being is in such a situation -- and furthermore to those who are the children of the household brings no benefit -- they are blaspheming the faith, and much more so than those who are unbelievers.
9. Thus choose such a widow,* someone who is no less than sixty years old, who was the wife of one man,
10. And she possesses the testimony as to good works, whether she raised children, took in strangers, washed the feet of the saints, uplifted the spirit of the persecuted or strove to perform every good deed.
11. Leave those widows who are young alone, however, for they will let go of Christ and will want to marry men,
12. And their fate* shall be that they will be oppressed by their former faith.
13. They shall then also learn to gossip, as they go about from house to house, and not only that, but they will talk too much and end up blabbering and saying unnecessary things.
14. Therefore, I would rather that the young ones should marry and give birth to children and conduct their homes and give "the enemy" no reason to gloat.
15. For as things are now some people have begun to follow Satan.
16. If a human being is faithful and if the widows have children that they must care for,* you should satisfy their needs, so as they may not affect the church, so as those widows who are truly widows have the opportunity [to serve as priests.]*
17. The priests* who take good care [of their families,*] deserve warm regard, especially those who are blessed by the Manifestation and the knowledge.
18. For Scripture says,"Do not ride the threshing ox,"19. Do not allow any suspicions against a priest, except on the testimony* of two or three witnesses.
and, "Laborers deserve their pay."
20. Speak only against those who sin before all people, so as the rest also submit [to the faith.]
21. I testify regarding you before God and our Lord Jesus Christ* and His chosen angels, that you observe these things, and that you neither prejudge anything, nor decree anything hypocritically.
22. Neither ordain* any human being hastily, nor associate yourself with foreign sins; guard yourself in purity.*
23. And henceforth drink not the water, except the wine, drink a little because of your stomach, and because of your imminent troubles.*
24. There are human beings who recognize* their sins and confess them before the court, and there are those that keep on sinning.*
25. Likewise good deeds are recognizable, but those that are destructive cannot be hidden.
*5:3 Widowed as a result of persecution of Christians.
*5:9 Requirements for women priests and deacons.
*5:12 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Judgment."
*5:16.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Be faithful to."
*5:16.2 The instruction implies accommodating widows, who qualify for priesthood, to be relieved of certain family responsibilities, such as providing food and shelter for their children.
*5:17.1 In Aramaic, plural nouns don't necessarily have feminine or masculine genders. They're determined by context. In this passage both men and women priests are being referred to.
*5:17.2 Lit. Ar. id.: Or: flock.
*5:19 Lit. Ar. expression: "Mouth of."
*5:22.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Consecrate the hand," to instruct Timothy regarding the selection of priests.
*5:22.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression retained: "Maintain your innocence."
*5:23 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Forthcoming illness." Reference to the dedication of the Last Supper or during the celebration of mass.
*5:24.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Present."
*5:24.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Go after them."
1 Timothy 6
1. Those who are under the yoke of duty,* should regard their masters with all respect, so as the name of God and His teachings will not be blasphemed.*
2. Those then who are faithful to the Lord, should not be abused on the basis that they are mere brethren; on the contrary, they should be ministered to even more, as they are faithful and beloved; those that give their life* in the ministry -- learn from them and love them.
3. If, however, there is someone who teaches another sort of knowledge and does not present the healing words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of submission to God,
4. This one elevates himself while knowing nothing, except he engages in vehement altercations and verbal controversies, from which stem divisiveness and ruin, and blasphemies and the basis of evil ideas,
5. And human subterfuge -- these [estranged priests] that subvert [the people's] ideas and drive them away from the substantive truth, and they assume that the submission to God is a business. You, however, distance yourself from such priests.
6. For our business is great indeed, that which is the submission to God to the extent of our ability.*
7. For we neither brought anything into the world,* nor can we even take out what we learned from it.
8. That is why all we worry about is food and clothing.
9. Those, however, who wish to be wealthy, will fall to temptation, in pitfalls and into a multitude of foolish and searing lusts that will sink humanity into the throes of destruction and ultimately oblivion.
10. For the root of every evil is the consideration for money above all else,* and there are people who absolutely adore money, and they lose all faith and open themselves up to a multitude of demons.
11. You, however, O human being from God, run from all this and chase after holiness and righteousness and faithfulness and love and Hope and kindness.
12. Fight the good battle of faith and remain focused on life everlasting* for which you were called, and celebrate the blessings of faith in witnessing to the multitude.
13. I have witnessed on your behalf before God who resurrects everyone, Jesus Christ, He who witnessed before Pontius Pilate the beautiful testimony,
14. And you shall likewise observe the commandment without protest or oaths, until our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed,
15. He who is destined to show the Hallowed and Almighty God, Infinite, King of kings and Lord of lords,
16. He who alone is Immutable and lives in the Light that no person can come near Him and neither can a human being from humanity see Him, nor show Him, to Whom belong honor and authority to the [end of the] universe, of all the universes, amen.
17. To the rich of this world, tell them neither to think highly of themselves, nor to rely on the wealth upon which there can be no reliance, except rely on the Living God, He who richly fulfills our every need.
18. And tell them to do good deeds and be enriched by worthwhile commitments and be an example of giving and philanthropy,
19. And tell them to consecrate for themselves a foundation of blessings toward what is destined, so as to inherit the true Life.
20. O, Timmy,* beware of being rushed, run from the retinue of empty noise makers and from the path of false doctrines.
21. For those who proclaim such practices are lost to the faith. Blessings be with you, amen.
(The end of the First Letter of Paul to Timothy that was written from Laodicea of Pisidia.)
*6:1.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Yoke of performance," or those who carry the "brunt of a task."
*6:1.2 Continuing the instructions regarding priesthood.
*6:2 Lit Ar. idiomatic expression: "Those who lay to repose."
*6:6 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "To the worthiness of our capacity."
*6:7 Lit. Ar. id.: "Universe."
*6:10 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Money's compassion."
*6:12 Lit. Ar. id.: "To [the end of] the universe."
*6:20 Lit. Ar. id.: "Timothe," playing on the name, "precious Timothy."
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--Translated from the Ancient Aramaic by Victor Alexander ©2001