Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹¹ But you belong to God, Timothy. Have nothing to do with all this. But do what is right. Do what God wants you to do. Believe in Christ. Be loving. Be patient. Be kind.

¹² Work hard at believing in God more and more. Make sure that you get everlasting life; God called you to have it. You stood before many people and said that you believed in Christ. That was the right thing to say.

¹³ Now we stand before God who gives life to all things. We stand before Christ who said what was right when he was in court before Pontius Pilate. I tell you to do this.

¹⁴ Do what you have been told to do. And do it so there will be nothing wrong, until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

¹⁵ At the right time God will bring Christ back. Praise God! He alone is ruler. He is King over all kings, and Lord over all lords.

¹⁶ He alone has everlasting life. He lives in such light that no one can go near him. No person has ever seen him, or can see him. May he have honour and respect and have everlasting power. May it be so!

¹⁷ Tell the rich people in this world not to be proud. Tell them to trust in God not in short-lived riches. He gives us richly all things to make us happy.

¹⁸ Tell the rich people to do good. Tell them to do many good things. Tell them to give to other people, and to help those who are in need.

¹⁹ In this way they will store up good things for themselves for the time to come. Then they will get that life which really is the true life.

²⁰ Timothy, take good care of what has been given to you. Some teachers say they know many things, but these things are not true. Do not teach these foolish things that do not come from God. Do not teach these things that do not agree together.

²¹ Some men have believed these things and have stopped believing in Christ. May God bless all of you.