1 Timothy 6

1All who are slaves should treat their masters with full respect, so that no one will speak evil of God's name and our teaching.

2Those who have masters who are believers should not show them less respect just because they are brothers. Instead, they should serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers whom they love. Teach and urge these things.

3Suppose someone teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching.

4That person is proud and understands nothing, having an unhealthy love for arguments and word-fights, which lead to jealousy, fighting, insults, evil suspicions,

5And constant friction between people whose minds are corrupt and who have lost the truth. They think that being godly is a way to get rich. Stay away from people like that.

6But being godly, together with being content, is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

8So if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9But people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires that drag them down to ruin and destruction.

10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, wanting money, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves much pain.

11But you, man of God, run away from all this. Instead, go after right living, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

12Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in front of many witnesses.

13Before God, who gives life to everything, and before Christ Jesus, who made the good confession when He stood before Pontius Pilate, I charge you:

14Keep this command without stain or blame until our Lord Jesus Christ appears.

15God will bring this about at the right time. He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

16He alone can never die, and He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has ever seen Him, and no one can. To Him be honor and power forever. Amen.

17Command those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to put their hope in money, which is so uncertain. Instead, they should put their hope in God, who richly gives us everything to enjoy.

18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and ready to share.

19In this way they store up treasure 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 trusted to you. Stay away from godless, empty talk and from the arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge."

21Some people who claim to have this knowledge have wandered away from the faith. May grace be with you all. Amen.