1 Timothy 6
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Slaves Are To Honor Their Masters
6 Let all-who are under a yoke as slaves be regarding their own masters as worthy of all honor, in order that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed[a]. 2 And let the ones having believing masters not be disregarding them because they are brothers, but let them be serving them more[b], because the ones being helped[c] by the good-work are believers and beloved ones.
Anyone Who Teaches Differently Is Spiritually Diseased And Pursuing Personal Gain
Be teaching and exhorting these things. 3 If anyone teaches-different-doctrines, and does not come-to[d] healthy[e] words— the ones of our Lord Jesus Christ— and to the teaching in accordance with godliness, 4 he has become conceited[f], understanding nothing, but being diseased[g] with respect to controversies and word-battles, out of which comes envy, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions, 5 constant-frictions, from people having been corrupted as to the mind and robbed[h] of the truth, while supposing that godliness is a means-of-gain. 6 Now godliness with contentment is a means of great gain. 7 For we brought-in nothing to the world; it is clear that neither can we bring-out anything. 8 But having sustenance and coverings, with these things we shall be content. 9 But the ones wanting to be-rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge[i] people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love-of-money is a root[j] of all evils— aspiring-to which, some were led-astray[k] from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
But You, O Man of God, Fight The Good Fight And Keep The Command Unspotted
11 But you, O man of God, be fleeing these things, and be pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Be fighting the good fight of faith. Take-hold-of eternal life, into which you were called, and confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I command you in the sight of God, the One giving-life-to all things, and Christ Jesus, the One having testified the good confession before[l] Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment unspotted, above-reproach, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which in His[m] own times, the blessed and only Ruler will show[n]— the King of the ones being-kings[o] and Lord of the ones being-lords[p], 16 the only One having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, Whom none of mankind saw nor is able to see, to Whom be honor and eternal dominion, amen.
Command The Rich To Be Rich In Good Works And To Take Hold of Real Life
17 Be commanding the ones rich in the present age not to be-high-minded, nor to have put-hope on the uncertainty of riches, but upon God, the One richly granting us all things for enjoyment; 18 to be working-good, to be-rich in good[q] works, to be generous, sharing ones, 19 treasuring-up for themselves a good foundation for the future[r], in order that they may take-hold-of real life.
Guard The Deposit, Timothy
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit[s], turning-aside-from the profane empty-chatterings and opposing-arguments of the falsely-named “knowledge”— 21 professing which, some missed-the-mark[t] with respect to the faith. Grace be with you[u] all.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 6:1 Or, slandered, insulted, spoken-against.
- 1 Timothy 6:2 Or, but rather let them be serving them.
- 1 Timothy 6:2 Or, benefitting.
- 1 Timothy 6:3 That is, agree with.
- 1 Timothy 6:3 Or, sound, correct.
- 1 Timothy 6:4 Or, clouded with pride.
- 1 Timothy 6:4 Or, ailing.
- 1 Timothy 6:5 Or, deprived.
- 1 Timothy 6:9 Or, sink.
- 1 Timothy 6:10 Or, the root of all kinds of evil.
- 1 Timothy 6:10 Or, wandered away.
- 1 Timothy 6:13 Or, in the time of.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Or, its.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Or, display, exhibit.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Or, reigning.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Or, ruling.
- 1 Timothy 6:18 Or, commendable, praiseworthy.
- 1 Timothy 6:19 Lit, the thing coming.
- 1 Timothy 6:20 That is, this book (1:18); or, the ministry entrusted to you; or, the Gospel.
- 1 Timothy 6:21 Or, deviated, departed.
- 1 Timothy 6:21 This word is plural.
1 Timothy 6
Easy-to-Read Version
Special Instructions for Slaves
6 All those who are slaves should show full respect to their masters. Then God’s name and our teaching will not be criticized. 2 Some slaves have masters who are believers, so they are brothers. Does this mean they should show their masters any less respect? No, they should serve them even better, because they are helping believers, people they should love.
This is what you must teach and tell everyone to do.
False Teaching and True Riches
3 Some people will teach what is false and will not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will not accept the teaching that produces a life of devotion to God. 4 They are proud of what they know, but they understand nothing. They are sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. And that brings jealousy, quarrels, insults, and evil mistrust. 5 They are always making trouble, because they are people whose thinking has been confused. They have lost their understanding of the truth. They think that devotion to God is a way to get rich.
6 Devotion to God is, in fact, a way for people to be very rich, but only if it makes them satisfied with what they have. 7 When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. 8 So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. 9 People who want to be rich bring temptations to themselves. They are caught in a trap. They begin to want many foolish things that will hurt them. These things ruin and destroy people. 10 The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have turned away from what we believe because they want to get more and more money. But they have caused themselves a lot of pain and sorrow.
Some Things to Remember
11 But you belong to God. So you should stay away from all those things. Always try to do what is right, to be devoted to God, and to have faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard. 13 Before God and Christ Jesus I give you a command. Jesus is the one who confessed that same wonderful truth when he stood before Pontius Pilate. And God is the one who gives life to everything. Now I tell you this: 14 Do what you were commanded to do without fault or blame until the time when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 God will make that happen at the right time. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. 16 God is the only one who never dies. He lives in light so bright that people cannot go near it. No one has ever seen him; no one is able to see him. All honor and power belong to him forever. Amen.
17 Give this command to those who are rich with the things of this world. Tell them not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted, but God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy. 18 Tell those who are rich to do good—to be rich in good works. And tell them they should be happy to give and ready to share. 19 By doing this, they will be saving up a treasure for themselves. And that treasure will be a strong foundation on which their future life will be built. They will be able to have the life that is true life.
20 Timothy, God has trusted you with many things. Keep these things safe. Stay away from people who talk about useless things that are not from God and who argue against you with a “knowledge” that is not knowledge at all. 21 Some people who claim to have that “knowledge” have gone completely away from what we believe.
God’s grace be with you all.
1 Timothy 6
American Standard Version
6 Let as many as are [a]servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that [b]partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to [c]sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but [d]doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain: 7 for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; 8 but having food and covering [e]we shall be therewith content. 9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all [f]kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, [g]patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who [h]giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; 14 that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 which in [i]its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of [j]kings, and Lord of [k]lords; 16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this present [l]world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, [m]willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard [n]that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 21 which some professing have [o]erred concerning the faith.
Grace be with you.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 6:1 Greek bondservants.
- 1 Timothy 6:2 Or, lay hold of
- 1 Timothy 6:3 Greek healthful.
- 1 Timothy 6:4 Greek sick.
- 1 Timothy 6:8 Or, in these we shall have enough
- 1 Timothy 6:10 Greek evils.
- 1 Timothy 6:11 Or, stedfastness
- 1 Timothy 6:13 Or, preserveth all things alive
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Or, his
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Greek them that reign as kings.
- 1 Timothy 6:15 Greek them that rule as lords.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 Or, age
- 1 Timothy 6:18 Or, ready to sympathize
- 1 Timothy 6:20 Greek the deposit.
- 1 Timothy 6:21 Greek missed the mark.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
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