1 Timothy 6

Instructions to Those Who Minister

11All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so 2that the name of God and our doctrine will not be 3spoken against. 2Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are 4brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who 5partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. 6Teach and 7preach these principles.

3If anyone 8advocates a different doctrine and does not 9agree with 10sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine 11conforming to godliness, 4he is 12conceited and understands nothing; but he 13has a morbid interest in 14controversial questions and 15disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between 16men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who 17suppose that 18godliness is a means of gain. 619But godliness actually is a means of 20great gain when accompanied by 21contentment. 7For 22we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8If we 23have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 924But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and 25a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For 26the love of money is a root of all 27sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have 28wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11But 29flee from these things, you 30man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, 31faith, 32love, 33perseverance and gentleness. 1234Fight the good fight of 35faith; 36take hold of the eternal life 37to which you were called, and you made the good 38confession in the presence of 39many witnesses. 1340I charge you in the presence of God, who 41gives life to all things, and of 42Christ Jesus, who testified the 43good confession 44before Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the 45appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which He will 46bring about at 47the proper time--He who is 48the blessed and 49only Sovereign, 50the King of 51kings and 52Lord of 53lords, 1654who alone possesses immortality and 55dwells in unapproachable light, 56whom no man has seen or can see. 57To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

17Instruct those who are rich in 58this present world 59not to be conceited or to 60fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, 61who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in 62good 63works, 64to be generous and ready to share, 1965storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may 66take hold of that which is life indeed.

20O 67Timothy, guard 68what has been entrusted to you, avoiding 69worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”-- 21which some have professed and thus 70gone astray 71from 72the faith.

73Grace be with you.