A Call to Prayer
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties
and prayers, petitions
and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 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 also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony
given at the proper time.
7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
Women Instructed
9 Likewise,
I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13 For it was Adam who was first created,
and then Eve.
14 And
it was not Adam
who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15 But
women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.