Honoring Masters

All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters[a] to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name(A) and His teaching will not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.(B)

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things. If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord(C) Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,(D) he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words.(E) From these come envy,(F) quarreling,(G) slander,(H) evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness[b] is a way to material gain.[c](I) But godliness with contentment is a great gain.(J)

For we brought nothing into the world,
and[d] we can take nothing out.(K)
But if we have food and clothing,[e]
we will be content with these.

But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root[f] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith(L) and pierced themselves with many pains.

Fight the Good Fight

11 But you, man of God, run from these things,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love,(M) endurance,(N) and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight(O) for the faith;
take hold of eternal life(P)
that you were called to
and have made a good confession about
in the presence of many witnesses.

13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all,(Q) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,(R) I charge you 14 to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing(S) of our Lord(T) Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in His own time.(U) He is

the blessed and only(V) Sovereign,
the King of kings,(W)
and the Lord of lords,(X)
16 the only One who has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light;(Y)
no one has seen or can see Him,(Z)
to Him be honor and eternal might.(AA)
Amen.(AB)

Instructions to the Rich

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant(AC) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,[g] who richly provides us with all things(AD) to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,(AE) to be generous, willing to share,(AF) 19 storing up for themselves a good reserve[h] for the age to come,(AG) so that they may take hold of life that is real.

Guard the Heritage

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,(AH) avoiding(AI) irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name.(AJ) 21 By professing it, some(AK) people have deviated from the faith.(AL)

Grace be with all of you.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:1 Or owners
  2. 1 Timothy 6:5 Referring to religion as a means of financial gain
  3. 1 Timothy 6:5 Other mss add From such people withdraw yourself.
  4. 1 Timothy 6:7 Other mss add it is clear that
  5. 1 Timothy 6:8 Or food and shelter
  6. 1 Timothy 6:10 Or is the root
  7. 1 Timothy 6:17 Other mss read on the living God
  8. 1 Timothy 6:19 Or foundation

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,(A) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.(B) Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.(C) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[a] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.(D) If anyone teaches otherwise(E) and does not agree to the sound instruction(F) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited(G) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words(H) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth(I) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment(J) is great gain.(K) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.(L) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.(M) Those who want to get rich(N) fall into temptation and a trap(O) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money(P) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith(Q) and pierced themselves with many griefs.(R)

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God,(S) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,(T) faith, love,(U) endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight(V) of the faith. Take hold of(W) the eternal life(X) to which you were called when you made your good confession(Y) 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(Z) made the good confession,(AA) I charge you(AB) 14 to keep this command without spot or blame(AC) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,(AD) 15 which God will bring about in his own time(AE)—God, the blessed(AF) and only Ruler,(AG) the King of kings and Lord of lords,(AH) 16 who alone is immortal(AI) and who lives in unapproachable light,(AJ) whom no one has seen or can see.(AK) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.(AL)

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

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted(AU) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter(AV) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.(AW)

Grace be with you all.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service