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

2 Those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brothers, but rather work as slaves for them because those who are benefited by their good work are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

3 If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree to wholesome words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to religious teaching,

4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but morbidly fond of disputes and controversies from which come envy, strife, abusive language, wicked suspicions,

5 and wranglings of men of depraved minds who are destitute of the truth. They think of religion as a source of gain.

6 Religion with contentment is a great source of gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world and we cannot carry anything out.

8 If we have food and clothing we will be content with these.

9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and injurious passions which plunge men into destruction and ruin.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some men grasping for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pangs.

11 But you, O man of God, must shun this. Pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

12 Play the grand hard game of the faith. Lay hold on life eternal, to which you have been called and have made the noble confession before many witnesses.

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

14 to keep the commandment stainless and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which in due time he will show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in light unapproachable, whom no man has seen or can see. To him be honor and power eternal! Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this world not to be haughty nor to fix their hope on uncertain wealth, but on God who provides all things richly for our enjoyment.

18 They must do good work, be rich in noble deeds, be generous, ready to share,

19 treasuring up for themselves a good fund for the future, that they may lay hold on the life that is real.

20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from profane and empty talk and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge."

21 Some while professing it have gone astray as regards the faith. Grace be with you all.