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1 Timothy 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 6

Rules for Slaves. 1 [a]Those who are under the yoke of slavery must regard their masters as worthy of full respect, so that the name of God and our teaching[b] may not suffer abuse.(A) 2 Those whose masters are believers must not take advantage of them because they are brothers but must give better service because those who will profit from their work are believers and are beloved.(B)

V. False Teaching and True Wealth

Teach and urge these things.[c] 3 Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching(C) 4 is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, 5 and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.(D) 6 [d]Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.(E) 7 For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.(F) 8 If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.(G) 9 Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.(H) 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

Exhortations to Timothy.[e] 11 But you, man of God,[f] avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.(I) 12 Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.(J) 13 I charge [you] before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,(K) 14 to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords,(L) 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.(M)

Right Use of Wealth.[g] 17 Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.(N) 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, 19 thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.(O)

VI. Final Recommendation and Warning[h]

20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane babbling and the absurdities of so-called knowledge.(P) 21 By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith.

Grace be with all of you.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 6:1–2 Compare the tables for household duties, such as that of Col 3:18–4:1. Domestic relationships derive new meaning from the Christian faith.
  2. 6:1 Our teaching: this refers to the teaching of the Christian community.
  3. 6:2b–10 Timothy is exhorted to maintain steadfastly the position outlined in this letter, not allowing himself to be pressured into any other course. He must realize that false teachers can be discerned by their pride, envy, quarrelsomeness, and greed for material gain. 1 Tm 6:6 is rather obscure and is interpreted, and therefore translated, variously. The suggestion seems to be that the important gain that religion brings is spiritual, but that there is material gain, too, up to the point of what is needed for physical sustenance (cf. 1 Tm 6:17–19).
  4. 6:6 Contentment: the word autarkeia is a technical Greek philosophical term for the virtue of independence from material goods (Aristotle, Cynics, Stoics).
  5. 6:11–16 Timothy’s position demands total dedication to God and faultless witness to Christ (1 Tm 6:11–14) operating from an awareness, through faith, of the coming revelation in Jesus of the invisible God (1 Tm 6:15–16).
  6. 6:11 Man of God: a title applied to Moses and the prophets (Dt 33:1; 1 Sm 2:27; 1 Kgs 12:22; 13:1; etc.).
  7. 6:17–19 Timothy is directed to instruct the rich, advising them to make good use of their wealth by aiding the poor.
  8. 6:20–21 A final solemn warning against the heretical teachers, with what seems to be a specific reference to gnosticism, the great rival and enemy of the church for two centuries and more (the Greek word for “knowledge” is gnōsis). If gnosticism is being referred to here, it is probable that the warnings against “speculations” and “myths and genealogies” (cf. especially 1 Tm 1:4; Ti 3:9) involve allusions to that same kind of heresy. Characteristic of the various gnostic systems of speculation was an elaborate mythology of innumerable superhuman intermediaries, on a descending scale (“genealogies”), between God and the world. Thus would be explained the emphasis upon Christ’s being the one mediator (as in 1 Tm 2:5). Although fully developed gnosticism belonged to the second and later centuries, there are signs that incipient forms of it belonged to Paul’s own period.
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1 Timothy 6
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

6 Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church;[a] rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved.[b]

False Teaching and True Riches

Teach and urge these duties. 3 Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, 4 is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, 5 and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.[c] 6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that[d] we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

The Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made[e] the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Personal Instructions and Benediction

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.

Grace be with you.[f]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:2 Gk are brothers
  2. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or since they are believers and beloved, who devote themselves to good deeds
  3. 1 Timothy 6:5 Other ancient authorities add Withdraw yourself from such people
  4. 1 Timothy 6:7 Other ancient authorities read world—it is certain that
  5. 1 Timothy 6:12 Gk confessed
  6. 1 Timothy 6:21 The Greek word for you here is plural; in other ancient authorities it is singular. Other ancient authorities add Amen
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1 Timothy 6
Good News Translation

6 Those who are slaves must consider their masters worthy of all respect, so that no one will speak evil of the name of God and of our teaching. 2 Slaves belonging to Christian masters must not despise them, for they are believers too. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their work are believers whom they love.

False Teaching and True Riches

You must teach and preach these things. 3 Whoever teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching of our religion 4 is swollen with pride and knows nothing. He has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words, and this brings on jealousy, disputes, insults, evil suspicions, 5 and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich.

6 Well, religion does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. 7 What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! 8 So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows.

Personal Instructions

11 But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses. 13 (A)Before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who firmly professed his faith before Pontius Pilate, I command you 14 to obey your orders and keep them faithfully until the Day when our Lord Jesus Christ will appear. 15 His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 16 He alone is immortal; he lives in the light that no one can approach. No one has ever seen him; no one can ever see him. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others. 19 In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life.

20 Timothy, keep safe what has been entrusted to your care. Avoid the profane talk and foolish arguments of what some people wrongly call “Knowledge.” 21 For some have claimed to possess it, and as a result they have lost the way of faith.

God's grace be with you all.

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1 Timothy 6
New American Standard Bible

Instructions to Those Who Minister

6 (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. 2 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.

3 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, 4 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, 5 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. 6 (M)But godliness actually is a means of (N)great gain when accompanied by (O)contentment. 7 For (P)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. 8 If we (Q)have food and [g]covering, with these we shall be content. 9 (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
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1 Timothy 6
New International Version

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

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.(D) 3 If anyone teaches otherwise(E) and does not agree to the sound instruction(F) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited(G) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words(H) 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(I) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment(J) is great gain.(K) 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.(L) 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.(M) 9 Those who want to get rich(N) fall into temptation and a trap(O) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money(P) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith(Q) and pierced themselves with many griefs.(R)

Final Charge to Timothy

11 But you, man of God,(S) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,(T) faith, love,(U) endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight(V) of the faith. Take hold of(W) the eternal life(X) to which you were called when you made your good confession(Y) 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(Z) made the good confession,(AA) I charge you(AB) 14 to keep this command without spot or blame(AC) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,(AD) 15 which God will bring about in his own time(AE)—God, the blessed(AF) and only Ruler,(AG) the King of kings and Lord of lords,(AH) 16 who alone is immortal(AI) and who lives in unapproachable light,(AJ) whom no one has seen or can see.(AK) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.(AL)

17 Command those who are rich(AM) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,(AN) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,(AO) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.(AP) 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,(AQ) and to be generous and willing to share.(AR) 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves(AS) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of(AT) the life that is truly life.

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

Grace be with you all.(AX)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service
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Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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