< 1 Timothy 6 >

1 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.
Let all who are under the yoke of slavery hold their own masters to be deserving of honour, so that the name of God and the Christian teaching may not be spoken against.
2 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.
And those who have believing masters should not be wanting in respect towards them because they are their brethren, but should serve them all the more willingly because those who profit by the faithful service rendered are believers and are friends.
3 Anyone who teaches otherwise, and refuses their assent to sound instruction – the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ – and to the teaching of religion,
So teach and exhort. If any one is a teacher of any other kind of doctrine, and refuses assent to wholesome instructions--those of our Lord Jesus Christ--and the teaching that harmonizes with true godliness,
4 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,
he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy, quarrelling, revilings, ill-natured suspicions,
5 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.
and persistent wranglings on the part of people whose intellects are disordered and they themselves blinded to all knowledge of the truth; who imagine that godliness means gain.
6 Of course religion is a great source of gain – when combined with contentment!
And godliness is gain, when associated with contentment;
7 For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it.
for we brought nothing into the world, nor can we carry anything out of it;
8 So, with food and shelter, we will be content.
and if we have food and clothing, with these we will be satisfied.
9 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.
But people who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many unwise and pernicious ways which sink mankind in destruction and ruin.
10 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.
For from love of money all sorts of evils arise; and some have so hankered after money as to be led astray from the faith and be pierced through with countless sorrows.
11 But you must, servant of God, avoid all this. Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
But you, O man of God, must flee from these things; and strive for uprightness, godliness, good faith, love, fortitude, and a forgiving temper.
12 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)
Exert all your strength in the honourable struggle for the faith; lay hold of the Life of the Ages, to which you were called, when you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses. (aiōnios g166)
13 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 –
I charge you--as in the presence of God who gives life to all creatures, and of Christ Jesus who at the bar of Pontius Pilate made a noble profession of faith--
14 I implore you to keep his command free from stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
that you keep God's commandments stainlessly and without reproach till the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 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,
For, as its appointed time, this will be brought about by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 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)
who alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, and whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be eternal honour and power! Amen. (aiōnios g166)
17 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)
Impress on those who are rich in the present age that they must not be haughty nor set their hopes on riches--that unstable foundation--but on God who provides us richly with all things for our enjoyment. (aiōn g165)
18 Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,
They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;
19 storing up for themselves what in the future will prove to be a good foundation, so that they may gain the only true life.
storing up for themselves that which shall be a solid foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of the Life which is life indeed.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ‘theology,’
O Timothy, guard the truths entrusted to you, shunning irreligious and frivolous talk, and controversy with what is falsely called 'knowledge';
21 for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all.
of which some have spoken boastfully in connexion with the true faith, and have erred. Grace be with you all.

< 1 Timothy 6 >