Slaves honor owners

1As many as are under the yoke of slavery should consider their own owners to be worthy of full respect, so that God's name and doctrine not be slandered.

2Those who have owners who are believers must not disregard them because they are brothers; instead they must serve them even better, because those receiving the good service are believers and beloved. ⁷⁹Conclusion to ‘Relationships’ Teach and exhort these things.

3If anyone teaches differently and does not consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine that accords with godliness,

4he is conceited and understands nothing. Rather he is obsessed with controversies and hair-splitting word battles, from which come envy, strife, slanderings, evil suspicions,

5constant wranglings of men with corrupted minds and destitute of the Truth, ⁸⁰who suppose that godliness is a means to financial gain. ⁸¹Keep away from such people. ⁸²

Godliness with contentment

6Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

7We brought nothing into the world and it is certain that neither can we take anything out. ⁸³

8So having food and clothing we will be content with that.

9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful desires, that plunge people into ruin and loss;

10because the love of money is a root ⁸⁴of all kinds of evil; in their greediness some have been led away from the faith and have impaled themselves on many distresses. ⁸⁵

Lay hold on eternal life

11But you, O man of God, flee these things; rather pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

12Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life into which you were called ⁸⁶—indeed, you confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ⁸⁷

13In the presence of the God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ⁸⁸I charge you

14to keep this commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸⁹

15which He will manifest at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and the Lord of lords;

16who alone has immortality, residing in unapproachable light; ⁹⁰whom no man has seen or can see; to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

To the rich

17Command ⁹¹those who are rich in this present world not to be haughty, nor to rely upon the uncertainty of riches but on the living ⁹²God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

18they are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous sharers ⁹³

19—storing up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, so that they may lay hold on the eternal life.

A closing exhortation

20O Timothy, guard the deposit! ⁹⁴Turn away from the godless, empty chatter and inconsistencies of what is falsely called ‘science’

21—by professing it some have erred concerning the Faith. ⁹⁵The Grace be with you. Amen.