1 Timothy 6:3-21

English Standard Version

³ If anyone ^(A)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with ^(B)the sound^[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching ^(C)that accords with godliness, ^4 (D)he is puffed up with conceit and ^(E)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for ^(F)controversy and for ^(G)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction among people ^(H)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, ^(I)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶ But ^(J)godliness ^(K)with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for ^(L)we brought nothing into the world, and^[b] we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But ^(M)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But ^(N)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(O)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(P)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(Q)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But as for you, ^(R)O man of God, ^(S)flee these things. ^(T)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ^12 (U)Fight the good fight of the faith. ^(V)Take hold of the eternal life ^(W)to which you were called and about which you made ^(X)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ^13 (Y)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, ^(Z)who in his testimony before^[c] Pontius Pilate made ^(AA)the good confession, ¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until ^(AB)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display ^(AC)at the proper time—he who is ^(AD)the blessed and only Sovereign, ^(AE)the King of kings and Lord of lords, ^16 (AF)who alone has immortality, ^(AG)who dwells in ^(AH)unapproachable light, ^(AI)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

¹⁷ As for the rich in ^(AJ)this present age, charge them ^(AK)not to be haughty, nor ^(AL)to set their hopes on ^(AM)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(AN)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, ^(AO)to be rich in good works, to be generous and ^(AP)ready to share, ¹⁹ thus ^(AQ)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(AR)take hold of ^(AS)that which is truly life.

²⁰ O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. ^(AT)Avoid the ^(AU)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” ²¹ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

^(AV)Grace be with you.^[d]