⁷ But ^[a]have nothing to do with ^(A)worldly ^(B)fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of ^(C)godliness;

³ If anyone ^(A)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[a]agree with ^(B)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(C)conforming to godliness,

⁵ and constant friction between ^(A)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(B)suppose that ^[a]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (C)But godliness actually is a means of ^(D)great gain when accompanied by ^(E)contentment. ⁷ For ^(F)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. ⁸ If we ^(G)have food and covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (H)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(I)a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(J)the love of money is a root of all ^[b]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(K)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹ But ^(L)flee from these things, you ^(M)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(N)faith, ^(O)love, ^[c]perseverance and gentleness. ^12 (P)Fight the good fight of ^(Q)faith; ^(R)take hold of the eternal life ^(S)to which you were called, and you made the good ^(T)confession in the presence of ^(U)many witnesses. ^13 (V)I charge you in the presence of God, who ^[d]gives life to all things, and of ^(W)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(X)good confession ^(Y)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the ^(Z)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[e]bring about at ^(AA)the proper time—He who is ^(AB)the blessed and ^(AC)only Sovereign, ^(AD)the King of ^[f]kings and ^(AE)Lord of ^[g]lords, ^16 (AF)who alone possesses immortality and ^(AG)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(AH)whom no man has seen or can see. ^(AI)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in ^(AJ)this present world ^(AK)not to be conceited or to ^(AL)fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(AM)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in ^(AN)good ^[h]works, ^(AO)to be generous and ready to share, ^19 (AP)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(AQ)take hold of that which is life indeed.

²⁰ O ^(AR)Timothy, guard ^(AS)what has been entrusted to you, avoiding ^(AT)worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thus ^(AU)gone astray ^[i]from ^(AV)the faith.

^(AW)Grace be with you.

⁵ holding to a form of ^[a](A)godliness, although they have ^(B)denied its power; ^(C)Avoid such men as these.