¹Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour , that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

²Those 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 .

³If 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 ,

⁴he is conceited , knowing nothing , but obsessed with arguments, disputes , and word battles, from which come envy , strife , insulting, evil suspicions ,

⁵constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain . Withdraw yourself from such .[#6:5 NU omits “Withdraw yourself from such.”]

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain .

⁷For we brought nothing into the world , and we certainly can ’t carry anything out .

⁸But having food and clothing, we will be content with that .

⁹But 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 .

¹⁰For 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 .

¹¹But you , man of God , flee these things , and follow after righteousness , godliness , faith , love, perseverance , and gentleness .

¹²Fight 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 .

¹³I command you before God who gives life to all things , and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession ,

¹⁴that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ ,

¹⁵which at the right time he will show , who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords .

¹⁶He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light , whom no man has seen nor can see , to whom be honour and eternal power . Amen.

¹⁷Charge 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;

¹⁸that they do good , that they be rich in good works , that they be ready to distribute , willing to share ;

¹⁹laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come , that they may lay hold of eternal life .

²⁰Timothy , guard that which is committed to you , turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge ,

²¹which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith .

Grace be with you . Amen.