DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR SATURDAY DECEMBER 9:
DAILY BIBLE READING
1 Timothy 1-3New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and
the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
No Other Doctrine
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia-remain in Ephesus that you may
charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables
and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification
which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some,
having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers
of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they
affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this:
that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and
insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane,
for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for
fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if
there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according
to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
Glory to God for His Grace
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted
me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a
blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because
I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was
exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for
this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all
longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for
everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God
who alone is wise,[a] be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Fight the Good Fight
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies
previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected,
concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and
Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Pray for All Men
2 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and
all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God
and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be
testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an
apostle-I am speaking the truth in Christ[b] and not lying-a teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and truth.
Men and Women in the Church
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with
braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper
for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in
silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to
have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed
first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being
deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in
childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with
self-control.
Qualifications of Overseers
3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop,[c]
he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to
teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,[d] but
gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well,
having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does
not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of
God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the
same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony
among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the
devil.
Qualifications of Deacons
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure
conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as
deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent,
not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the
husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good
standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Great Mystery
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct
yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness:
God[e] was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
Footnotes:
a.1 Timothy 1:17 NU-Text reads to the only God.
b.1 Timothy 2:7 NU-Text omits in Christ.
c.1 Timothy 3:1 Literally overseer
d.1 Timothy 3:3 NU-Text omits not greedy for money.
e.1 Timothy 3:16 NU-Text reads Who.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
