Instructions to Those Who Minister

6 ^(A)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor ^(B)so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be ^[a]spoken against. ² Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are ^(C)brothers or sisters, but must serve them all the more, because those who ^[b]partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. ^(D)Teach and ^[c]preach these principles.

³ If anyone ^(E)advocates a different doctrine and does not ^[d]agree with ^(F)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine ^(G)conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is ^(H)conceited and understands nothing; but he ^[e]has a sick craving for ^(I)controversial questions and ^(J)disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between ^(K)people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(L)suppose that ^[f]godliness is a means of gain. ^6 (M)But godliness actually is a means of ^(N)great gain when accompanied by ^(O)contentment. ⁷ For ^(P)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we ^(Q)have food and ^[g]covering, with these we shall be content. ^9 (R)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(S)a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For ^(T)the love of money is a root of all ^[h]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have ^(U)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many ^[i]griefs.

¹¹ But ^(V)flee from these things, you ^(W)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(X)faith, ^(Y)love, ^[j]perseverance, and gentleness. ^12 (Z)Fight the good fight of ^(AA)faith; ^(AB)take hold of the eternal life ^(AC)to which you were called, and for which you made the good ^(AD)confession in the presence of ^(AE)many witnesses. ^13 (AF)I direct you in the presence of God, who ^[k]gives life to all things, and of ^(AG)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(AH)good confession ^(AI)before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without ^[l]fault or reproach until the ^(AJ)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will ^[m]bring about at ^(AK)the proper time—He who is ^(AL)the blessed and ^(AM)only Sovereign, ^(AN)the King of ^[n]kings and ^(AO)Lord of ^[o]lords, ^16 (AP)who alone possesses immortality and ^(AQ)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(AR)whom ^[p]no one has seen or can see. ^(AS)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in ^(AT)this present world ^(AU)not to be conceited or to ^(AV)set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(AW)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in ^(AX)good ^[q]works, ^(AY)to be generous and ready to share, ^19 (AZ)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(BA)take hold of that which is truly life.

^20 (BB)Timothy, protect ^(BC)what has been entrusted to you, avoiding ^(BD)worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”— ²¹ which some have professed and thereby have ^(BE)gone astray ^[r]from ^(BF)the faith.

^(BG)Grace be with you.