Honoring Masters

1All who are under the yoke as •slaves must regard their own mastersa to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s nameb and His teaching will not be blasphemed. 2Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are •brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.c

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things. 3If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lordd Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,e 4he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words.f From these come envy,g quarreling,h slander,i evil suspicions, 5and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godlinessj is a way to material gain.k, l 6But godliness with contentment is a great gain.m

7For we brought nothing into the world,

andn we can take nothing out.o

8But if we have food and clothing,p

we will be content with these.

9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a rootq of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faithr and pierced themselves with many pains.

Fight the Good Fight

11But you, man of God, run from these things,

and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

love,s endurance,t and gentleness.

12Fight the good fightu for the faith;

take hold of eternal lifev

that you were called to

and have made a good confession about

in the presence of many witnesses.

13In the presence of God, who gives life to all,w and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius •Pilate,x I charge you 14to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearingy of our Lordz Jesus Christ. 15God will bring this about in His own time.aa He is

the blessed and onlyab Sovereign,

the King of kings,ac

and the Lord of lords,ad

16the only One who has immortality,

dwelling in unapproachable light;ae

no one has seen or can see Him,af

to Him be honor and eternal might.ag

•Amen.ah

Instructions to the Rich

17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogantai or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,aj who richly provides us with all thingsak to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,al to be generous, willing to share,am 19storing up for themselves a good reservean for the age to come,ao so that they may take hold of life that is real.

Guard the Heritage

20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,ap avoidingaq irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name.ar 21By professing it, someas people have deviated from the faith.at

Grace be with all of you.