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 2so that 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 4brothers or sisters, 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 sick craving for 14controversial questions and 15disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between 16people 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 24covering, with these we shall be content. 925But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and 26a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For 27the love of money is a root of all 28sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have 29wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many 30griefs.

11But 31flee from these things, you 32man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, 33faith, 34love, 35perseverance, and gentleness. 1236Fight the good fight of 37faith; 38take hold of the eternal life 39to which you were called, and for which you made the good 40confession in the presence of 41many witnesses. 1342I direct you in the presence of God, who 43gives life to all things, and of 44Christ Jesus, who testified the 45good confession 46before Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep the commandment without 47fault or reproach until the 48appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which He will 49bring about at 50the proper time--He who is 51the blessed and 52only Sovereign, 53the King of 54kings and 55Lord of 56lords, 1657who alone possesses immortality and 58dwells in unapproachable light, 59whom 60no one has seen or can see. 61To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

17Instruct those who are rich in 62this present world 63not to be conceited or to 64set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, 65who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in 66good 67works, 68to be generous and ready to share, 1969storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may 70take hold of that which is truly life.

2071Timothy, protect 72what has been entrusted to you, avoiding 73worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”-- 21which some have professed and thereby have 74gone astray 75from 76the faith.

77Grace be with you.