The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

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- Chapter 6 -

(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

As for believers who are slaves, they should honor their masters in every way, so that no one will insult God or what we teach.

Slaves who have believing masters should not respect them less, for they are brothers. Instead, they should serve their masters even better, because the masters whom they serve are their brothers whom they should love. Teach and announce these things to the believers.

Reject False Doctrines

If anyone teaches false doctrines that do not agree with the reliable and true teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that person is very proud and does not understand anything. They want to argue about unimportant matters and about certain words, and people who listen to them envy others. They quarrel with others and with one another. They say bad things about others. They suspect that others have evil motives.

Their whole way of thinking has become completely wrong because they have rejected true things. As a result, they make the mistake of thinking that by doing religious things they will get a lot of money.

Godliness with Contentment

Well, we truly do gain great benefit when we behave in a way that honors God and when we are content with what we have.

Indeed, we brought nothing into the world when we were born, and we cannot take anything out of it when we die.

So if we have food and clothing, we should be satisfied with these.

But some people strongly desire to be rich. As a result, they do wrong things to get money, and this will cause them to be caught as animals get caught in traps. They foolishly desire many things, and so they get hurt. God will completely destroy them!

People do all sorts of evil things when they want to have a lot of money. Because some people longed for money, they have stopped believing the truth that all of us believe and they have caused themselves to be very sorrowful.

Fight the Good Fight

But you, the man who serves God, keep completely away from such love of money. Decide that you will do what is right, and that you will honor God. Trust God, and love others. Endure difficult circumstances. Always be gentle with people.

Fight a good fight for that faith that saves you! Take hold of this great gift of eternal life and cling to it through everything you experience, no matter where you go. Remember that God chose you to live with him forever. These gifts of God are in you, and you made a good confession about them when you stood before many people.

God, who gives life to all things, knows everything that you do. Messiah Jesus also knows everything that you do. He strongly declared what was true when he was on trial before Pontius Pilate.

So as you remember those things, I command you to hold tightly on to what Messiah has commanded us in every way. Hold fast to those teachings in a way that our Lord Jesus Christ will not need to criticize you about what is wrong, until he comes again.

Remember that God will cause Jesus to come again at the proper time. God is awesome! He is the only Ruler! He rules over all other people who rule!

He is the only one who will never die, and he lives in heaven in light that is so bright that no one can approach it! He is the one whom no person has ever seen and whom no person is able to see! My desire is that all people will honor him and that he will rule powerfully forever! May it be so!

A Charge to the Rich

(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

Tell the believers who are rich here in this present world that they should not be proud, and that they should not trust in their many possessions, because they cannot be certain how long they will have them. Instead, they should trust in God. He is the one who abundantly gives us everything we have in order that we may enjoy it.

Also, tell them to do good things. These are true wealth. Indeed, they should share with others very much of what they have.

If they do that, it will be as though they were storing up for themselves many things that God will give them. When they do this, they will have the life that is the real life.

Guard the Faith

Timothy, faithfully proclaim the true message that Jesus has given to you. Avoid the people who want to chatter about things that are not important to God. Avoid the people who say that they have true knowledge but who say things that are against the true things we teach.

Certain men teach these things and so they stop believing the truth. May God be kind to you all.

(Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)

Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Reject False Doctrines

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.(a)

Godliness with Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

A Charge to the Rich

(Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)

Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

Guard the Faith

Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)6:5 NU omits “Withdraw yourself from such.”