1 Timothy 6

1 Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and the doctrine not be 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 who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

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 a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

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, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, 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, quarrelling, recriminations, base suspicions,

5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

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 But 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, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it.

8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

So, with food and shelter, we will be content.

9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in 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 a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through 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, man of God, flee these things, and follow after 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 faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight 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 I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

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 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless 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 which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the 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 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honour and eternal power. 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 honour and power for ever. Amen. (aiōnios g166)

17 Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything 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 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,

19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal 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 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is 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 profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all.