1 Timothy 6

1All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be slandered.

2Those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead, they should serve them all the better, since those who benefit from their good service are believers and dearly loved. Teach and urge these things.

3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that accords with godliness,

4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversies and quarrels about words, which produce envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions,

5and constant friction among people who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a means of gain.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it.

8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many senseless 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 it, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

11But you, man of God, flee from these things. 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 the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

14to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

16who alone has immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from godless chatter and the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge,

21which some have professed and so have gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you all.