New Testament
1 Timothy 6
Overview
Paul addresses bond-servants, urging those under a yoke to regard their masters as worthy of all honor so that God's name and the teaching are not reviled, and those with believing masters to serve all the better as beloved brothers. He returns to the false teachers, charging that anyone who teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of Christ is puffed up with conceit, understands nothing, and craves controversy, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Against this Paul declares that godliness with contentment is great gain, since we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out, and warns that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, into which some have wandered away from the faith. He summons Timothy, the man of God, to flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness, to fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of eternal life. Paul then issues a solemn charge in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, bursting into a doxology to the King of kings and Lord of lords who alone has immortality. He closes by instructing the rich not to be haughty or to set their hope on uncertain riches but on God, to be rich in good works and generous, and gives Timothy a final appeal: guard the deposit entrusted to him, avoiding irreverent babble and the falsely called knowledge that some have professed and so swerved from the faith.
1Let 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.
2Those 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.
3If 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,
4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,
5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.
8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9But 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.
10For 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.
11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12Fight 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.
13I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,
14that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
16He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17Charge 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;
18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;
19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,
21which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.