1 Timothy 6

1 Those who are under the yoke as slavest must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will preventt the name of God and Christian teachingt from being discredited.t

2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respectt because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.t
Teach them and exhort them about these things.t

Summary of Timothy’s Duties

3 If someone spreads false teachingst and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness,4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godlinesss is a way of making a profit.6 Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.7 For we have brought nothing into this world and sos we cannot take a single thing out either.8 But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.t9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is the roott of all evils.t Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
11 But you, as a person dedicated to God,t keep away from all that.t Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.12 Compete wellt for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confessions fort in the presence of many witnesses.13 I charge youst before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confessionts before Pontius Pilate,14 to obeyt this commandts without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ15 – whose appearingt the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.

16 He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goodst not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain,t but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.18 Tell them to do good,t to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.t

19 In this way they will save upt a treasure for themselves as a firm foundationt for the future and so lay hold oft what is truly life.

Conclusion

20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoidt the profane chatter and absurditiest of so-called “knowledge.”t

21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith.t Grace be with you all.st

2 Timothy 1

Salutation

1 From Paul,t an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promiset of life in Christ Jesus,

2 to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

Thanksgiving and Charge to Timothy

3 I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,t when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.t4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you,t so that I may be filled with joy.

5 I recallt your sincere faitht that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am suret is in you.
6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possesst through the laying on of my hands.7 For God did not give us a Spiritt of fear but of power and love and self-control.8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lordt or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but byt God’s power accept your share of sufferingt for the gospel.9 He is the one who saved ust and called us with a holy calling, not based ont our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,t10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. Het has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!11 For this gospelt I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.s12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do.t But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is sett and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to mes until that day.s13 Hold to the standardt of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.ts

14 Protect that good things entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asiat deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.t17 But when he arrived in Rome,s he eagerly searched for me and found me.

18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!s And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.ts

2 Timothy 2

Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship

1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.2 And entrust what you heard me sayt in the presence of many others as witnessest to faithful peoplet who will be competentt to teach others as well.3 Take your share of sufferingt as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not pleaset the one who recruited him.5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winnert unless he competes according to the rules.s6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.

7 Think about what I am saying andt the Lord will give you understanding of all this.t
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David;t such is my gospel,t9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonmentt as a criminal, but God’s messaget is not imprisoned!t10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God,t that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.t

11 This sayings is trustworthy:s
If we died with him, we will also live with him.

12 If we endure, we will also reign with him.t
If we denyt him,t he will also deny us.

13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.s

Dealing with False Teachers

14 Remind peoplet of these things and solemnly charge themt before the Lords not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.t15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.s16 But avoid profane chatter,s because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,t17 and their message will spread its infectiont like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.t18 They have strayed from the trutht by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.

19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”s and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lordt must turn away from evil.”
20 Now in a wealthy homet there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.t21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior,t he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with otherst who call on the Lord from a pure heart.s23 But reject foolish and ignorantt controversies, because you know they breed infighting.t24 And the Lord’s slavets must not engage in heated disputest but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,25 correctings opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the trutht

26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captivet to do his will.t