1 Timothy 6
Wycliffe Bible
6 Whatever servants be under yoke, deem they their lords worthy all honour, lest the name of the Lord and the doctrine be blasphemed[a].
2 And they that have faithful lords, despise them not, for they be brethren; but more serve they, for they be faithful and loved, which be partners of beneficence. Teach thou these things, and admonish thou these things.[b]
3 If any man teach otherwise, and accordeth not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that teaching that is by piety [and to the teaching that is after piety],
4 he is proud, and knoweth nothing, but languisheth about questions and strivings of words [nothing knowing, but languishing about questions and fightings of words], of the which be brought forth envies, strives, blasphemies, evil suspicions,
5 fightings of men, that be corrupt in soul, and that be deprived from truth, that deem winning to be piety. [fightings of men corrupt in soul, or reason, and that be deprived from truth, deeming winning to be piety.]
6 But a great winning is piety, with sufficience.
7 For we brought in nothing into this world, and no doubt, that we be not able to bear any thing away. [Forsooth we brought nothing into this world, no doubt, for we may not bear away any thing.]
8 But we having foods, and with what things we shall be covered, be we satisfied with these things. [Forsooth having foods, and with what things we shall be clothed, with these things be we satisfied.]
9 For they that will be made rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable desires and harmful, which drown men into death and perdition.
10 For the root of all evils is covetousness, which some men coveting erred from the faith, and besetted them(selves) with many sorrows [and beset them with many sorrows].
11 But, thou, man of God, flee these things; but follow thou rightwiseness [soothly follow thou rightwiseness], piety, faith, charity, patience, mildness.
12 Strive thou a good strife of faith, catch everlasting life, into which thou art called, and hast acknowledged a good acknowledging before many witnesses.
13 I command to thee before God, that quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, that yielded a witnessing under Pilate of Pontii, a good confession,
14 that thou keep the commandment without wem, without reproof [irreprehensible], [till] into the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;
15 whom the blessed and alone almighty king of kings and Lord of lords shall show in his times.
16 Which alone hath undeadliness [The which alone hath immortality], and dwelleth in light, to which light no man may come; whom no man saw, neither may see; to whom glory, and honour, and empire be without end [to whom glory, and honour, and empire into without end]. Amen.
17 Command thou to the rich men of this world, that they understand not highly, neither that they hope in uncertainty of riches[c], but in the living God, that giveth to us all things plenteously to use;
18 to do well, to be made rich in good works, lightly to give, to commune,
19 to treasure to themselves a good foundament into time to coming [into time to come], that they catch everlasting life.
20 Thou Timothy, keep the thing betaken to thee [Thou Timothy, keep the deposit, or thing betaken to thee], eschewing cursed novelties of voices, and opinions of false name of knowing;
21 which some men promising, about the faith fell down[d]. The grace of God be with thee. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 6:1 lest the name of their Lord God and his doctrine be blasphemed
- 1 Timothy 6:2 Forsooth, they that have faithful, or christian, lords, despise them not, for they be brethren; but more serve they them, for they be faithful and loved, the which be partners of beneficence, or good-doing. These things teach thou, and these things admonish thou.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 Command thou to the rich of this world, that they understand not highly, or proudly, nor to hope in uncertainty of riches
- 1 Timothy 6:21 the which some promising, fell down about the faith
1 Timothy 6
New Matthew Bible
The duty of servants toward their masters. Against such as are not satisfied with the word of God. Against covetousness. A good lesson for the rich.
6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and his precepts are not ill spoken of. 2 See to it that those who have believing masters do not honour them less because they are brethren, but so much more rather serve them, because they are believing, and beloved, and will benefit from the good service.
These things teach and exhort. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise, and is not content with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the instruction of godliness, 4 he is puffed up and knows nothing, but wastes his brains about questions and strife of words, whereof come envy, strife, railing, evil surmisings, 5 and the vain disputations of men with corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who think that wealth is godliness. Separate yourself from such people.
6 But godliness is great wealth, if a man is content with what he has. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and it is a plain case that we can carry nothing out. 8 When we have food and clothing, let us therewith be content. 9 Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and snares, and into many foolish and harmful desires, which drown men in perdition and destruction. 10 For covetousness is the root of all evil, which, when some followed after, they erred from the faith, and tangled themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you who are the man of God, flee such things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are called and have pledged yourself with a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give you charge in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and before Jesus Christ, who bore faithful witness under Pontius Pilate, 14 to keep the commandment, and be without spot and unrebukeable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ – 15 which appearing (when the time is come) he will show, who is blessed and sole in dominion, King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, and dwells in light to which no man can attain, whom no man ever saw neither can see: to whom be honour and rule everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge those who are rich in this world not to be high-minded, and not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us abundantly all things, to enjoy them; 18 and to do good, and to be rich in good works, and ready to give and distribute, 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, so that they may obtain eternal life.
20 O Timothy, preserve that which has been given you to keep, and avoid unspiritual vanities of voices, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so-called, 21 which knowledge has led some who profess it to err as concerning the faith.
Grace be with you. Amen.
Sent from Laodicea, which is the
chiefest city of Phrygia,
Pacatiana.
1 Timothy 6
Authorized (King James) Version
6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14 that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith.
Grace be with thee. Amen.
The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.