1 Timothy 6

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. 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. ₃If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to 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 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.

₆But godliness with contentment is great gain. ₇For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ₈But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 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. 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.

₁₁But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance 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. 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 ₁₄to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing 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, ₁₆who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. 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. ₁₈Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing 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.

₂₀Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ₂₁which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.