The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 6 -

(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

Reject False Doctrines

If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,

he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.(a)

Godliness with Contentment

Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, so

(b)

we cannot carry anything out of it.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.

He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

A Charge to the Rich

(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Guard the Faith

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.(c)

Footnotes

(a)6:5 BYZ and TR include Withdraw yourself from such.

(b)6:7 BYZ and TR so certainly

(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Reject False Doctrines

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.(a)

Godliness with Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

A Charge to the Rich

(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

Guard the Faith

Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)6:5 NU omits “Withdraw yourself from such.”