1 Timothy 6
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
All who are in the position of slaves should regard their masters as deserving of the greatest respect, so that the name of God, and our teaching, may not be maligned.
2 Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
Those who have Christian masters should not think less of them because they are also followers of Christ, but on the contrary they should serve them all the better, because those who are to benefit by their good work are dear to them as their fellow Christians.
3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
Anyone who teaches otherwise, and refuses their assent to sound instruction – the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ – and to the teaching of religion,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
is puffed up with conceit, not really knowing anything, but having a morbid craving for discussions and arguments. Such things only give rise to envy, quarreling, recriminations, base suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
and incessant wrangling on the part of these corrupt-minded people who have lost all hold on the truth, and who think of religion only as a source of gain.
6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
Of course religion is a great source of gain – when combined with contentment!
7 For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
So, with food and shelter, we will be content.
9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Those who want to be rich fall into the net of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into destruction and ruin.
10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.
11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
But you must, servant of God, avoid all this. Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. (aiōnios g166)
Run the great race of the faith, and win the eternal life. It was for this that you received the call, and, in the presence of many witnesses, made the great profession of faith. (aiōnios g166)
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
I beg you, as in the sight of God, the source of all life, and of Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the great profession of faith –
14 Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I implore you to keep his command free from stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
This will be brought about in his own time by the one ever-blessed Potentate, the king of all kings and Lord of all lords,
16 He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (aiōnios g166)
who alone is possessed of immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or ever can see – to whom be ascribed honor and power for ever. Amen. (aiōnios g166)
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. (aiōn g165)
Teach those who are wealthy in this life not to pride themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. (aiōn g165)
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,
19 treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
storing up for themselves what in the future will prove to be a good foundation, so that they may gain the only true life.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ‘theology,’
21 which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.
for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all.
