by stating that it was written by Paul, to Timothy. Paul reminds Timothy that he has asked Timothy to stay in Ephesus and prevent false teaching of the law by others. Paul says that law is to be applied to sinners like rebels, murderers, and the sexually immoral. The list of lawbreakers includes the Greek word , which is sometimes translated to mean "homosexual men". The epistle is well known for what it says about the roles of men and women in its second chapter, particularly the verse 1 Timothy 2:12. In the NIV translation this verse reads: The epistle justifies this by saying that Adam was formed before Eve, and that Eve was tricked by the serpent. Leaders of the church are to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of respect, avoiding overindulgence in wine and managing their affairs well. Timothy is advised to avoid false teachings and focus on the truth. The author discusses a list of widows to be supported by the church, setting restrictions on the types of women to help: only old widows who never remarry and who prioritize their family are to receive help. Widows younger than sixty have sensual desires that may cause them to remarry. Slaves should respect their masters, especially if their masters are believers. People should avoid envy and avoid the temptation to focus on becoming rich because "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." In closing, Timothy is told he should continue to "fight the good fight of the faith" by helping others to be virtuous and by running his church well. Music Several composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, set a line from the epistle as a Christmas cantata, including Stölzel's beginning with 1 Timothy 3:16. See also 1 Timothy 2:12 An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture Pseudepigrapha Second Epistle to Timothy Textual variants in the New Testament#First Epistle to Timothy Notes References External links First Timothy texts and resources Various versions 2nd-century Christian texts Canonical epistles Timothy 1 Pastoral epistles