1Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants[1] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (Isa 52:5; Ro 2:24; Tit 2:5; 1Pe 2:18)
False Teachers and True Contentment
2Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. (1Ti 4:11; 1Ti 4:13; 1Ti 5:7; Phm 1:16)3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[2] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (1Ti 1:3; 1Ti 1:10; Tit 1:1)4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (Ac 18:15; 1Co 8:2; 1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 1:7; 1Ti 3:6; 2Ti 2:14; 2Ti 2:23; 2Ti 3:4; Tit 3:9)5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. (Eph 4:22; 2Ti 3:8; Tit 1:11; Tit 1:15; 2Pe 2:3)6But godliness with contentment is great gain, (Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16; Pr 16:8; Php 4:11; 1Ti 4:8; Heb 13:5)7for we brought nothing into the world, and[3] we cannot take anything out of the world. (Job 1:21; Ps 49:17; Ec 5:15)8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (Ge 28:20; Pr 30:8)9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (Pr 15:27; Pr 23:4; Pr 28:20; Mt 13:22; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 3:7)10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (Ex 23:8; De 16:19)
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (Pr 15:9; 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 3:17)12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1Co 9:25; 2Co 9:13; Php 3:12; 1Ti 1:18; 1Pe 5:10)13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[4] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, (Mt 27:11; Joh 18:37; 1Ti 5:21; 1Ti 6:12; Re 1:5; Re 3:14)14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2Th 2:8)15which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (1Ti 1:11; 1Ti 2:6; Re 17:14)16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (Job 37:23; Ps 104:2; Joh 1:18; 1Ti 1:17)17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. (Pr 23:5; Mt 13:22; Mr 10:24; Ac 14:17; Ro 11:20; Ro 12:3; Ro 12:16; 2Ti 4:10; Tit 2:12)18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, (Lu 12:21; Ro 12:13; Tit 3:8; Tit 3:14)19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (Mt 6:19; 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 1:1)20O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” (Col 2:8; 2Ti 2:16; 2Ti 3:5; 2Ti 4:4; Tit 1:14)21for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.[5] (Col 4:18)
1 Timothy 6
New International Version
1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
False teachers and the love of money
2Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[1] of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.6But godliness with contentment is great gain.7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Final charge to Timothy
11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen.17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,21which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
1 Timothy 6
King James Version
1Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.2And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.6But godliness with contentment is great gain.7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
1 Timothy 6
New International Reader’s Version
1All who are forced to serve as slaves should consider their masters worthy of full respect. Then people will not speak evil things against God’s name and against what we teach.
People who teach lies or love money
2Some slaves have masters who are believers. They shouldn’t show their masters disrespect just because they are also believers. Instead, they should serve them even better. That’s because their masters are loved by them as believers. These masters are committed to caring for their slaves. These are the things you are to teach. Try hard to get the believers to do them.3Suppose someone teaches something different from what I have taught. Suppose that person doesn’t agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose they don’t agree with godly teaching.4Then that person is proud and doesn’t understand anything. They like to argue more than they should. They can’t agree about what words mean. All of this results in wanting what others have. It causes fighting, harmful talk, and evil distrust.5It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.6You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have.7We didn’t bring anything into the world. We can’t take anything out of it.8If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that.9People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.10Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.
Paul gives a final command to Timothy
11But you are a man of God. Run away from all these things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe.12Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.13God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus told the truth when he was a witness in front of Pontius Pilate. In the sight of God and Christ, I give you a command.14Obey it until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. Obey it completely. Then no one can find fault with it or you.15God will bring Jesus back at a time that pleases him. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the greatest King of all. He is the most powerful Lord of all.16God is the only one who can’t die. He lives in light that no one can get close to. No one has seen him. No one can see him. Honour and power belong to him for ever. Amen.17Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.18Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share.19In this way, they will store up true riches for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.20Timothy, guard what God has trusted you with. Turn away from godless chatter. Stay away from opposing ideas that are falsely called knowledge.21Some people believe them. By doing that they have turned away from the faith. May God’s grace be with you all.