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If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers[a] who are well loved.

False Teaching and True Riches

Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:2 Greek brothers.

But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect[a] because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.[b]

Summary of Timothy’s Duties

Teach them and exhort them about these things.[c] If someone spreads false teachings[d] and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness[e] is a way of making a profit.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:2 tn Or “think the less of them”; Grk “despise them,” “look down on them.”
  2. 1 Timothy 6:2 tn Or “those who devote themselves to service are faithful and dearly loved” (referring to slaves who serve them).
  3. 1 Timothy 6:2 tn Grk “these things teach and exhort.”
  4. 1 Timothy 6:3 tn Grk “teaches other doctrines,” (different from apostolic teaching, cf. 1 Tim 1:3).
  5. 1 Timothy 6:5 tc Although most witnesses, including some early versions and fathers (D2 Ψ 1241 1505 M al sy Cyp Lcf Ambst), have ἀφίστασο ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων (aphistaso apotōn toioutōn, “stay away from such things!”) after εὐσεβείαν (eusebeian, “godliness”; thus, “who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit; stay away from such things!”), there seems to be little reason for this clause’s omission in some of the oldest and best witnesses (א A D* F G 048 6 33 81 1175 1739 1881 lat co). It is likely that it crept into the text early, perhaps as a marginal comment, but it should not be considered authentic in light of the strong external and transcriptional evidence against it.