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And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't[a] take anything with us when we leave. So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes. People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them. 10 The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.

Fighting a Good Fight for the Faith

11 Timothy, you belong to God, so keep away from all these evil things. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle. 12 Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life. God offered it to you when you clearly told about your faith, while so many people listened. 13 (A) Now I ask you to make a promise. Make it in the presence of God, who gives life to all, and in the presence of Christ Jesus, who openly told Pontius Pilate about his faith. 14 Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

15 (B) The glorious God
    is the only Ruler,
    the King of kings
    and Lord of lords.
At the time that God
    has already decided,
he will send Jesus Christ
    back again.

16 (C) Only God lives forever!
And he lives in light
    that no one can come near.
No human has ever seen God
    or ever can see him.
God will be honored,
and his power
    will last forever. Amen.

17 Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. 18 Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. 19 This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so they will know what true life is like.

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Footnotes

  1. 6.7 we won't: Some manuscripts have “we surely won't.”

But godliness with contentment(A) is great gain.(B) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.(C) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.(D) Those who want to get rich(E) fall into temptation and a trap(F) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money(G) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith(H) and pierced themselves with many griefs.(I)

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God,(J) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,(K) faith, love,(L) endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight(M) of the faith. Take hold of(N) the eternal life(O) to which you were called when you made your good confession(P) in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate(Q) made the good confession,(R) I charge you(S) 14 to keep this command without spot or blame(T) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,(U) 15 which God will bring about in his own time(V)—God, the blessed(W) and only Ruler,(X) the King of kings and Lord of lords,(Y) 16 who alone is immortal(Z) and who lives in unapproachable light,(AA) whom no one has seen or can see.(AB) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.(AC)

17 Command those who are rich(AD) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(AE) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(AF) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(AG) 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,(AH) and to be generous and willing to share.(AI) 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves(AJ) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of(AK) the life that is truly life.

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