Serving with Honor
(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

1As many as are under a yoke as slaves, let them esteem their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. 2Now those having believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers; but rather, let them serve, because those being helped by the good work are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Reject False Doctrines

3If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not draw near, being sound in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching according to godliness, 4he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but diseased about controversies and fights about words, out of which come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant arguing of men thoroughly corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, supposing godliness to be a means of gain.†

Godliness with Contentment

6But godliness with contentment is a means of great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, because† neither are we able to bring out anything. 8But having sustenance and coverings, with these we will be content.

9But those wishing to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all evils, which some, stretching after, were led astray away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

13I charge you before God, the One giving life to all things, and Christ Jesus, the One having testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14for you to keep the commandment, without stain, above reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which He will show in His own times, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of those being kings and the Lord of those being lords, 16the One alone having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one of men has seen nor is able to see, to whom be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

A Charge to the Rich
(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

17Charge the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to have hoped on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,† the One richly providing us all things for enjoyment; 18to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous in distributing, ready to share, 19treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for that which is about to be, so that they may lay hold of that which is truly life.†

Guard the Faith

20O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted, avoiding profane, empty utterances, and opposing arguments of that which is falsely named “knowledge,” 21which some, professing, missed the mark concerning the faith.

Grace be with you⁺ all.†

Footnotes:

5 BYZ and TR include Withdraw yourself from such.
7 BYZ and TR so certainly
17 BYZ and TR but in the Living God
19 BYZ and TR of eternal life
21 BYZ and TR include Amen.