1 Timothy 6
Christian Standard Bible
Honoring Masters
6 All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters[a] as worthy of all respect, so that God’s name(A) and his teaching will not be blasphemed. 2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but serve them even better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.[b](B)
False Doctrine and Human Greed
Teach and encourage these things. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord(C) Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,(D) 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words.(E) From these come envy,(F) quarreling,(G) slander,(H) evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.[c](I) 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.(J) 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and[d] we can take nothing out.(K) 8 If we have food and clothing,[e] we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root[f] of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith(L) and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Fight the Good Fight
11 But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,(M) endurance,(N) and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight(O) of the faith. Take hold of eternal life(P) to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all,(Q) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,(R) I charge you 14 to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing(S) of our Lord(T) Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in his own time.(U) He is the blessed and only(V) Sovereign, the King of kings,(W) and the Lord of lords,(X) 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,(Y) whom no one has seen or can see,(Z) to him be honor and eternal power.(AA) Amen.(AB)
Instructions to the Rich
17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant(AC) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,[g] who richly provides us with all things(AD) to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,(AE) to be generous and willing to share,(AF) 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age,(AG) so that they may take hold of what is truly life.
Guard the Heritage
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,(AH) avoiding(AI) irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.(AJ) 21 By professing it, some(AK) people have departed from the faith.(AL)
Grace be with you all.
1 Timothy 6
English Standard Version
6 (A)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, (B)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are (C)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
False Teachers and True Contentment
(D)Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone (E)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with (F)the sound[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching (G)that accords with godliness, 4 (H)he is puffed up with conceit and (I)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for (J)controversy and for (K)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people (L)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, (M)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But (N)godliness (O)with contentment is great gain, 7 for (P)we brought nothing into the world, and[c] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But (Q)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But (R)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, (S)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that (T)plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of (U)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
11 But as for you, (V)O man of God, (W)flee these things. (X)Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 (Y)Fight the good fight of the faith. (Z)Take hold of the eternal life (AA)to which you were called and about which you made (AB)the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 (AC)I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, (AD)who in his testimony before[d] Pontius Pilate made (AE)the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until (AF)the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display (AG)at the proper time—he who is (AH)the blessed and only Sovereign, (AI)the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 (AJ)who alone has immortality, (AK)who dwells in (AL)unapproachable light, (AM)whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As for the rich in (AN)this present age, charge them (AO)not to be haughty, nor (AP)to set their hopes on (AQ)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, (AR)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, (AS)to be rich in good works, to be generous and (AT)ready to share, 19 thus (AU)storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may (AV)take hold of (AW)that which is truly life.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. (AX)Avoid the (AY)irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Footnotes
- 1 Timothy 6:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
- 1 Timothy 6:3 Or healthy
- 1 Timothy 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that]
- 1 Timothy 6:13 Or in the time of
- 1 Timothy 6:21 The Greek for you is plural
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
