1 Timothy 6
1 Let those who are under the yoke as slaves esteem their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teachings be not blasphemed.
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 whose masters are Christian believers must not treat them with disrespect, because they are brothers; nay, rather slave for them the better because those who get the benefit of their services are believing and beloved. Continue to teach and preach this.
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 any one teaches heterodoxy, and refuses to consent to the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teachings of religion,
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 puffed up with conceit and knows nothing, but is doting about disputations and a strife of words. These give rise to envy, quarrels, railings, 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 wrangling between men whose minds are corrupt and destitute of the truth; who suppose that godliness is a source 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 Now godliness with contentment is truly gainful;
Of course religion is a great source of gain – when combined with contentment!
7 for we have brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out!
For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it.
8 So if we have food and shelter, let us be content with that.
So, with food and shelter, we will be content.
9 Those who desire to be rich fall into the snares of temptation and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
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 a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eager desire to be rich some have been led astray form the faith, and have 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 servant of God, flee from these things, and run after integrity, piety, faith, love, stedfastness, gentleness.
But you must, servant of God, avoid all this. Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
12 Keep contending in the noble contest of the faith; seize hold on eternal life, to which you were called when you confessed the good confession in the presence of 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 In the presence of God who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus who bore witness to the good confession 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 I charge you, keep your commission spotless and irreproachable until the appearing 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 For in his own good time this will be brought about by that blessed and only potentate, King of kings and Lord of lords,
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 who alone possesses immortality, who dwells in light that none can approach, whom no man has ever seen or can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. 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 Charge the rich of this world not to be supercilious, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in God, who provides all things richly for our use. (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 Charge them to practise benevolence, to be rich in good works, to be open-handed and generous,
Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,
19 laying up right good treasure for themselves in the world to come, in order that they may obtain the Life which is life indeed.
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 the treasure which is committed to you. Shun the profane babblings and contradictions of the falsely called "knowledge"
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ‘theology,’
21 which some professing have erred from the faith. Grace be with you.
for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all.
