1 Timothy 6

1 All slaves who believe must give complete respect to their own masters. In this way no one will speak evil of God’s name and what we teach.

2 Slaves whose masters also believe should respect their masters even though their masters are also believers. As a result, believers who are slaves should serve their masters even better because those who receive the benefit of their work are believers whom they love.
Teach and encourage people to do these things.

Guidelines for Living a Godly Life

3 Whoever teaches false doctrine and doesn’t agree with the accurate words of our Lord Jesus Christ and godly teachings4 is a conceited person. He shows that he doesn’t understand anything. Rather, he has an unhealthy desire to argue and quarrel about words. This produces jealousy, rivalry, cursing, suspicion,

5 and conflict between people whose corrupt minds have been robbed of the truth. They think that a godly life is a way to make a profit.
6 A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.7 We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take anything out of it.

8 As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.
9 But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin.

10 Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.
11 But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight for the Christian faith. Take hold of everlasting life to which you were called and about which you made a good testimony in front of many witnesses.
13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony in front of Pontius Pilate,14 I insist that, until our Lord Jesus Christ appears, you obey this command completely. Then you cannot be blamed for doing anything wrong.15 At the right time God will make this known. God is the blessed and only ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

16 He is the only one who cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, nor can they see him. Honor and power belong to him forever! Amen.
17 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.18 Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share.

19 By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.
20 Timothy, guard the Good News which has been entrusted to you. Turn away from pointless discussions and the claims of false knowledge that people use to oppose the Christian faith.

21 Although some claim to have knowledge, they have abandoned the faith.
God’s good willt be with all of you.

1 Timothy 6

1 If you are a slave, you should respect and honour your owner. This will keep people from saying bad things about God and about our teaching.

2 If any of you slaves have owners who are followers, you should show them respect. After all, they are also followers of Christ, and he loves them. So you should serve and help them the best you can.

False teaching and true wealth

5 and nasty quarrels. They have wicked minds and have missed out on the truth.
These people think religion is supposed to make you rich. 6 And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. 7 We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won'tt take anything with us when we leave. 8 So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes. 9 People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them.

10 The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much that they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.

Fighting a good fight for the faith

14 Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

15 The glorious God
is the only Ruler,
the King of kings
and Lord of lords.
At the time that God
has already decided,
he will send Jesus Christ
back again.

16 Only God lives for ever!
And he lives in light
that no one can come near.
No human has ever seen God
or ever can see him.
God will be honoured,
and his power
will last for ever. Amen.
17 Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life. 18 Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.

19 This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so that they will know what true life is like.
20 Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don't pay any attention to that godless and stupid talk that sounds clever but really isn't.

21 Some people have even lost their faith by believing this talk.
I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!