1 Timothy 6:11-21

Contemporary English Version

Fighting a Good Fight for the Faith

¹¹Timothy, you belong to God, so keep away from all these evil things. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle. ¹²Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life. God offered it to you when you clearly told about your faith, while so many people listened. ¹³^(A) Now I ask you to make a promise. Make it in the presence of God, who gives life to all, and in the presence of Christ Jesus, who openly told Pontius Pilate about his faith. ¹⁴Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

¹⁵^(B) The glorious God
    is the only Ruler,
    the King of kings
    and Lord of lords.
At the time that God
    has already decided,
he will send Jesus Christ
    back again.

¹⁶^(C) Only God lives forever!
And he lives in light
    that no one can come near.
No human has ever seen God
    or ever can see him.
God will be honored,
and his power
    will last forever. Amen.

¹⁷Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. ¹⁸Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have. ¹⁹This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so they will know what true life is like.

²⁰Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don't pay any attention to godless and stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't. ²¹Some people have even lost their faith by believing this talk.

I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!

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