| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 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. | 1All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. |
| 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 of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on. | 2Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles. |
| 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, | 3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with 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 suspicions | 4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, |
| 5and 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. | 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. |
| 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. |
| 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. | 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. |
| 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. | 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. |
| 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. | 9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them 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. | 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. |
| 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. | 11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, 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. | 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before 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 you | 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: |
| 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance 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, | 15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. |
| 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. | 16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! 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. | 17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. |
| 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. | 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready 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. | 19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which 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, | 20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” |
| 21which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all. | 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all. |
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