1 Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17 Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith.
Grace be with you. Amen.
1 Almal wat diensknegte is onder 'n juk, moet hulle eie here alle eer waardig ag, sodat die Naam van God en die leer nie belaster mag word nie.
2 En die wat gelowige here het, moet hulle nie verag omdat hulle broeders is nie, maar moet hulle des te meer dien, omdat hulle wat die weldade ontvang, gelowiges en geliefdes is. Leer hierdie dinge en wek daartoe op.
3 As iemand iets anders leer en nie instem met die gesonde woorde van onse Here Jesus Christus en met die leer wat volgens die godsaligheid is nie,
4 die is verwaand en verstaan niks nie, maar het 'n sieklike sug na twisvrae en woordestryd waaruit ontstaan afguns, twis, lasteringe, bose agterdog,
5 nuttelose stryery van mense wat verdorwe in hulle verstand en van die waarheid beroof is en dink dat die godsaligheid winsgewend is. Onttrek jou aan sulke mense.
6 Maar die godsaligheid saam met vergenoegdheid is 'n groot wins.
7 Want ons het niks in die wêreld ingebring nie; dit is duidelik dat ons ook niks daaruit kan wegdra nie.
8 Maar as ons voedsel en klere het, moet ons daarmee vergenoeg wees.
9 Maar die wat ryk wil word, val in versoeking en strikke en baie dwase en skadelike begeerlikhede wat die mense laat wegsink in verderf en ondergang.
10 Want die geldgierigheid is 'n wortel van alle euwels; en omdat sommige dit begeer, het hulle afgedwaal van die geloof en hulleself met baie smarte deurboor.
11 Maar jy, man van God, vlug van hierdie dinge weg, en jaag n die geregtigheid, godsaligheid, geloof, liefde, lydsaamheid, sagmoedigheid.
12 Stry die goeie stryd van die geloof, gryp na die ewige lewe, waartoe jy ook geroep is en die goeie belydenis voor baie getuies afgelê het.
13 Ek gebied jou voor die aangesig van God wat aan alle dinge die lewe gee, en van Christus Jesus wat voor Pontius Pilatus die goeie belydenis betuig het,
14 dat jy die gebod onbevlek, onberispelik bewaar tot by die verskyning van onse Here Jesus Christus
15 wat op sy eie tyd vertoon sal word deur die salige en enigste Heerser, die Koning van die konings en Here van die here,
16 wat alleen onsterflikheid besit en 'n ontoeganklike lig bewoon, wat geen mens gesien het of kan sien nie, aan wie toekom eer en ewige krag. Amen.
17 Beveel die rykes in die teenwoordige wêreld om nie hoogmoedig te wees nie en ook nie hulle hoop te stel op die onsekerheid van die rykdom nie, maar op die lewende God wat ons alles ryklik verleen om te geniet;
18 dat hulle goed moet doen en ryk wees in goeie werke, vrygewig, mededeelsaam,
19 en vir hulle 'n skat weglê, 'n goeie fondament vir die toekoms, sodat hulle die ewige lewe kan verwerf.
20 o TimotheÂs, bewaar jou pand en vermy die onheilige, onsinnige praatjies en teëwerpinge van die valslik sogenaamde kennis,
21 waarvan sommige belydenis gedoen het en, wat die geloof betref, op 'n dwaalweg geraak het. Mag die genade met jou wees! Amen.