Our Holy Father Amphilocus, Bishop of Iconium (395); Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum; Dionysios, Patriarch of Constantinople

I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare, ¹⁹holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith, ²⁰of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

⁸I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting. ⁹In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing, ¹⁰but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness. ¹¹Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission. ¹²But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. ¹³For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience; ¹⁵but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with sobriety.

They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. ¹⁷Most certainly, I tell you, whoever doesn’t receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”

²⁶Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

²⁷But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

²⁸Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for God’s Kingdom’s sake, ³⁰who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”