Honor Masters

Let as many (A)bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Error and Greed

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to (B)wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, (C)and to the [a]doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, [b]useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. [c]From (D)such withdraw yourself.

Now godliness with (E)contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, [d]and it is (F)certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be (G)content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The Good Confession

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus (H)who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only [e]Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in (I)unapproachable light, (J)whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain (K)riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things (L)to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 (M)storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Guard the Faith

20 O Timothy! (N)Guard what was committed to your trust, (O)avoiding the profane and [f]idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:3 teaching
  2. 1 Timothy 6:5 NU, M constant friction
  3. 1 Timothy 6:5 NU omits the rest of v. 5.
  4. 1 Timothy 6:7 NU omits and it is certain
  5. 1 Timothy 6:15 Sovereign
  6. 1 Timothy 6:20 empty chatter

οσοι εισιν υπο ζυγον δουλοι τους ιδιους δεσποτας πασης τιμης αξιους ηγεισθωσαν ινα μη το ονομα του θεου και η διδασκαλια βλασφημηται

οι δε πιστους εχοντες δεσποτας μη καταφρονειτωσαν οτι αδελφοι εισιν αλλα μαλλον δουλευετωσαν οτι πιστοι εισιν και αγαπητοι οι της ευεργεσιας αντιλαμβανομενοι ταυτα διδασκε και παρακαλει

ει τις ετεροδιδασκαλει και μη προσερχεται υγιαινουσιν λογοις τοις του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου και τη κατ ευσεβειαν διδασκαλια

τετυφωται μηδεν επισταμενος αλλα νοσων περι ζητησεις και λογομαχιας εξ ων γινεται φθονος ερις βλασφημιαι υπονοιαι πονηραι

παραδιατριβαι διεφθαρμενων ανθρωπων τον νουν και απεστερημενων της αληθειας νομιζοντων πορισμον ειναι την ευσεβειαν αφιστασο απο των τοιουτων

εστιν δε πορισμος μεγας η ευσεβεια μετα αυταρκειας

ουδεν γαρ εισηνεγκαμεν εις τον κοσμον δηλον οτι ουδε εξενεγκειν τι δυναμεθα

εχοντες δε διατροφας και σκεπασματα τουτοις αρκεσθησομεθα

οι δε βουλομενοι πλουτειν εμπιπτουσιν εις πειρασμον και παγιδα και επιθυμιας πολλας ανοητους και βλαβερας αιτινες βυθιζουσιν τους ανθρωπους εις ολεθρον και απωλειαν

10 ριζα γαρ παντων των κακων εστιν η φιλαργυρια ης τινες ορεγομενοι απεπλανηθησαν απο της πιστεως και εαυτους περιεπειραν οδυναις πολλαις

11 συ δε ω ανθρωπε του θεου ταυτα φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην ευσεβειαν πιστιν αγαπην υπομονην πραοτητα

12 αγωνιζου τον καλον αγωνα της πιστεως επιλαβου της αιωνιου ζωης εις ην και εκληθης και ωμολογησας την καλην ομολογιαν ενωπιον πολλων μαρτυρων

13 παραγγελλω σοι ενωπιον του θεου του ζωοποιουντος τα παντα και χριστου ιησου του μαρτυρησαντος επι ποντιου πιλατου την καλην ομολογιαν

14 τηρησαι σε την εντολην ασπιλον ανεπιληπτον μεχρι της επιφανειας του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

15 ην καιροις ιδιοις δειξει ο μακαριος και μονος δυναστης ο βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων και κυριος των κυριευοντων

16 ο μονος εχων αθανασιαν φως οικων απροσιτον ον ειδεν ουδεις ανθρωπων ουδε ιδειν δυναται ω τιμη και κρατος αιωνιον αμην

17 τοις πλουσιοις εν τω νυν αιωνι παραγγελλε μη υψηλοφρονειν μηδε ηλπικεναι επι πλουτου αδηλοτητι αλλ εν τω θεω τω ζωντι τω παρεχοντι ημιν πλουσιως παντα εις απολαυσιν

18 αγαθοεργειν πλουτειν εν εργοις καλοις ευμεταδοτους ειναι κοινωνικους

19 αποθησαυριζοντας εαυτοις θεμελιον καλον εις το μελλον ινα επιλαβωνται της αιωνιου ζωης

20 ω τιμοθεε την παρακαταθηκην φυλαξον εκτρεπομενος τας βεβηλους κενοφωνιας και αντιθεσεις της ψευδωνυμου γνωσεως

21 ην τινες επαγγελλομενοι περι την πιστιν ηστοχησαν η χαρις μετα σου αμην

As many as are servants under a yoke, their own masters worthy of all honour let them reckon, that the name of God and the teaching may not be evil spoken of;

and those having believing masters, let them not slight [them], because they are brethren, but rather let them serve, because they are stedfast and beloved, who of the benefit are partaking. These things be teaching and exhorting;

if any one be teaching otherwise, and do not consent to sound words -- those of our Lord Jesus Christ -- and to the teaching according to piety,

he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings,

wranglings of men wholly corrupted in mind, and destitute of the truth, supposing the piety to be gain; depart from such;

but it is great gain -- the piety with contentment;

for nothing did we bring into the world -- [it is] manifest that we are able to carry nothing out;

but having food and raiment -- with these we shall suffice ourselves;

and those wishing to be rich, do fall into temptation and a snare, and many desires, foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin and destruction,

10 for a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;

11 and thou, O man of God, these things flee, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness;

12 be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.

13 I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,

14 that thou keep the command unspotted, unblameable, till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which in His own times He shall shew -- the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords,

16 who only is having immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no one of men did see, nor is able to see, to whom [is] honour and might age-during! Amen.

17 Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us all things richly for enjoyment; --

18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate,

19 treasuring up to themselves a right foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life age-during.

20 O Timotheus, the thing entrusted guard thou, avoiding the profane vain-words and opposition of the falsely-named knowledge,

21 which certain professing -- concerning the faith did swerve; the grace [is] with you. Amen.

Instructions to Those Who Minister

(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. 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.

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, 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, 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. (M)But godliness actually is a means of (N)great gain when accompanied by (O)contentment. For (P)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we (Q)have food and [g]covering, with these we shall be content. (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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:1 Or blasphemed
  2. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or devote themselves to kindness
  3. 1 Timothy 6:2 Lit exhort, urge
  4. 1 Timothy 6:3 Lit come to; or come with
  5. 1 Timothy 6:4 Lit is sick about
  6. 1 Timothy 6:5 Or religion
  7. 1 Timothy 6:8 I.e., any covering for protection, mainly clothing
  8. 1 Timothy 6:10 Lit the evils
  9. 1 Timothy 6:10 Lit pains
  10. 1 Timothy 6:11 Or steadfastness
  11. 1 Timothy 6:13 Or keeps alive
  12. 1 Timothy 6:14 Lit spot
  13. 1 Timothy 6:15 Lit show
  14. 1 Timothy 6:15 Lit those who reign as kings
  15. 1 Timothy 6:15 Lit those who rule as lords
  16. 1 Timothy 6:16 Lit none of mankind
  17. 1 Timothy 6:18 Or deeds
  18. 1 Timothy 6:21 Lit concerning