6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.^{(A) 2} “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³ “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”^[a](B)

⁴ Fathers,^[b] do not exasperate your children;^(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.^(D)

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect^(E) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,^(F) just as you would obey Christ.^{(G) 6} Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,^(H) doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,^{(I) 8} because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(J) whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^(K) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(L) with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(M) and in his mighty power.^{(N) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(O) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(P) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(Q) against the powers^(R) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(S) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(T) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(U) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(V) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(W) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(X) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(Y) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(Z) and the sword of the Spirit,^(AA) which is the word of God.^(AB)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(AC) on all occasions^(AD) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(AE) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(AF) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(AG) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(AH) make known the mystery^(AI) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(AJ) in chains.^(AK) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Final Greetings

²¹ Tychicus,^(AL) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,^(AM) and that he may encourage you.^(AN)

²³ Peace^(AO) to the brothers and sisters,^[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[d]

Widows, Elders and Slaves

5 Do not rebuke an older man^(A) harshly,^(B) but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men^(C) as brothers, ² older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.^{(D) 4} But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,^(E) for this is pleasing to God.^{(F) 5} The widow who is really in need^(G) and left all alone puts her hope in God^(H) and continues night and day to pray^(I) and to ask God for help. ⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^{(J) 7} Give the people these instructions,^(K) so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied^(L) the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰ and is well known for her good deeds,^(M) such as bringing up children, showing hospitality,^(N) washing the feet^(O) of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble^(P) and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

¹¹ As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹² Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³ Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies^(Q) who talk nonsense,^(R) saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴ So I counsel younger widows to marry,^(S) to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.^{(T) 15} Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.^(U)

¹⁶ If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.^(V)

¹⁷ The elders^(W) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(X) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a](Y) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^{[b](Z) 19} Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(AA) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^{(AB) 20} But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove^(AC) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.^{(AD) 21} I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus^(AE) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

²² Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,^(AF) and do not share in the sins of others.^(AG) Keep yourself pure.^(AH)

²³ Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine^(AI) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

²⁴ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. ²⁵ In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

6 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,^(AJ) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.^{(AK) 2} Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.^(AL) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare^[c] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.^{(AM) 3} If anyone teaches otherwise^(AN) and does not agree to the sound instruction^(AO) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited^(AP) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words^(AQ) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth^(AR) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment^(AS) is great gain.^{(AT) 7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.^{(AU) 8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.^{(AV) 9} Those who want to get rich^(AW) fall into temptation and a trap^(AX) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money^(AY) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith^(AZ) and pierced themselves with many griefs.^(BA)

Final Charge to Timothy

¹¹ But you, man of God,^(BB) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,^(BC) faith, love,^(BD) endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(BE) of the faith. Take hold of^(BF) the eternal life^(BG) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(BH) in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate^(BI) made the good confession,^(BJ) I charge you^{(BK) 14} to keep this command without spot or blame^(BL) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(BM) 15} which God will bring about in his own time^(BN)—God, the blessed^(BO) and only Ruler,^(BP) the King of kings and Lord of lords,^{(BQ) 16} who alone is immortal^(BR) and who lives in unapproachable light,^(BS) whom no one has seen or can see.^(BT) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.^(BU)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich^(BV) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,^(BW) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,^(BX) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.^{(BY) 18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,^(BZ) and to be generous and willing to share.^{(CA) 19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves^(CB) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of^(CC) the life that is truly life.

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted^(CD) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter^(CE) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.^(CF)

Grace be with you all.^(CG)