⁷ But ^[a]stay away from ^(A)worthless ^(B)stories that are typical of old women. Rather, ^[b]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)people 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 ^[b]covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (H)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(I)a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(J)the love of money is a root of all ^[c]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(K)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many ^[d]griefs.

¹¹ But ^(L)flee from these things, you ^(M)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(N)faith, ^(O)love, ^[e]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 for which you made the good ^(T)confession in the presence of ^(U)many witnesses. ^13 (V)I direct you in the presence of God, who ^[f]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 ^[g]fault or reproach until the ^(Z)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[h]bring about at ^(AA)the proper time—He who is ^(AB)the blessed and ^(AC)only Sovereign, ^(AD)the King of ^[i]kings and ^(AE)Lord of ^[j]lords, ^16 (AF)who alone possesses immortality and ^(AG)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(AH)whom ^[k]no one 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)set 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 ^[l]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 truly life.

^20 (AR)Timothy, protect ^(AS)what has been entrusted to you, avoiding ^(AT)worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thereby have ^(AU)gone astray ^[m]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 people as these.