1 *See 1 Pet. 2:18Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants*6:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, *Isa. 52:5;Rom. 2:24;Titus 2:5so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are *See Philem. 16brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

*ch. 4:11,13;5:7Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone *ch. 1:3teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with *See ch. 1:10the sound*6:3 Or healthy words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching *Titus 1:1that accords with godliness, 4 *ch. 3:6;2 Tim. 3:4he is puffed up with conceit and *1 Cor. 8:2;[ch. 1:7] understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for *ch. 1:4;2 Tim. 2:23;Titus 3:9controversy and for *2 Tim. 2:14;[Acts 18:15]quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people *2 Tim. 3:8;[Eph. 4:22;Titus 1:15] who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, *Titus 1:11;2 Pet. 2:3imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But *[ch. 4:8] godliness *Ps. 37:16;Prov. 15:16;16:8;Phil. 4:11;Heb. 13:5with contentment is great gain, 7 for *Job 1:21;Ps. 49:17;Eccles. 5:15we brought nothing into the world, and*6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But *Gen. 28:20;Prov. 30:8if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But *Prov. 15:27;23:4;28:20;Matt. 13:22those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, *[ch. 3:7] into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that *[ch. 1:19]plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of *[Ex. 23:8;Deut. 16:19]all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

11 But as for you, *2 Tim. 3:17O man of God, *2 Tim. 2:22flee these things. *See Prov. 15:9Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 *[ch. 1:18]; See 1 Cor. 9:25Fight the good fight of the faith. *[Phil. 3:12] Take hold of the eternal life *1 Pet. 5:10to which you were called and about which you made *See 2 Cor. 9:13the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 *See ch. 5:21I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, *[Matt. 27:11;John 18:37;Rev. 1:5;3:14] who in his testimony before*6:13 Or in the time of Pontius Pilate made *[See ver. 12above]the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until *See 2 Thess. 2:8the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display *See ch. 2:6at the proper time—he who is *ch. 1:11the blessed and only Sovereign, *See Rev. 17:14the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 *See ch. 1:17who alone has immortality, *[Ps. 104:2] who dwells in *Job 37:23unapproachable light, *See John 1:18whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in *2 Tim. 4:10;Titus 2:12this present age, charge them *Rom. 11:20;12:3,16not to be haughty, nor *See Mark 10:24to set their hopes on *Prov. 23:5;[Matt. 13:22] the uncertainty of riches, but on God, *See Acts 14:17who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, *Luke 12:21;Titus 3:8,14to be rich in good works, to be generous and *See Rom. 12:13ready to share, 19 thus *See Matt. 6:19,20storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may *ver. 12take hold of *[2 Tim. 1:1]that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. *2 Tim. 3:5;[Col. 2:8;2 Tim. 4:4;Titus 1:14] Avoid the *2 Tim. 2:16irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

*See Col. 4:18Grace be with you.*6:21 The Greek for you is plural