aAll who
are under
the yoke
as slaves
are to regard
their own
masters
as worthy
of all
honor
so
bthat the name
of God
and our doctrine
will not be 1spoken
against
.
Those who have
believers
as their masters
must not be disrespectful
to them because
they are abrethren
, but must serve
them all
the more
, because
those
who 1partake
of the benefit
are believers
and beloved
. bTeach
and 2preach
these
principles.
If anyone
aadvocates
a different
doctrine
and does not 1agree
with bsound
words
, those
of our Lord
Jesus
Christ
, and with the doctrine
cconforming
to godliness
,
he is aconceited and understands
nothing
; but he 1has
a morbid
interest
in bcontroversial
questions
and cdisputes
about
words
, out of which
arise
envy
, strife
, abusive
language
, evil
suspicions
,
and constant friction
between amen
of depraved
mind
and deprived
of the truth
, who bsuppose
that 1godliness
is a means
of gain
.
aBut godliness actually is a means
of bgreat
gain
when accompanied
by ccontentment
.
For awe have brought nothing
into the world
, so
we cannot
take
anything
out of it either
.
If we ahave food
and covering
, with these
we shall be content
.
aBut those who want
to get
rich
fall
into temptation
and ba snare
and many
foolish
and harmful
desires
which
plunge
men
into ruin
and destruction
.
For athe love of money
is a root
of all
1sorts of evil
, and some
by longing
for it have bwandered
away
from the faith
and pierced
themselves
with many
griefs
.
But aflee from these
things
, you bman
of God
, and pursue
righteousness
, godliness
, cfaith
, dlove
, 1perseverance
and gentleness
.
aFight the good
fight
of bfaith
; ctake
hold
of the eternal
life
dto which
you were called
, and you made
the good
econfession
in the presence
of fmany
witnesses
.
aI charge you in the presence
of God
, who 1gives
life
to all
things
, and of bChrist
Jesus
, who testified
the cgood
confession
dbefore
Pontius
Pilate
,
that you keep the commandment
without
stain
or reproach
until
the aappearing
of our Lord
Jesus
Christ
,
which He will 1bring
about at athe proper
time
--He who is bthe blessed
and conly
Sovereign
, dthe King
of 2kings
and eLord
of 3lords
,
awho alone possesses
immortality
and bdwells
in unapproachable
light
, cwhom
no
man
has seen
or
can
see
. aTo Him be honor
and eternal
dominion
! Amen
.
Instruct those
who are rich
in athis
present
world
bnot to be conceited
or
to cfix
their hope
on the uncertainty
of riches
, but on God
, dwho richly
supplies
us with all
things
to enjoy
.
Instruct them to do good
, to be rich
in agood
1works
, bto be generous
and ready
to share
,
astoring up for themselves
the treasure
of a good
foundation
for the future
, so
that they may btake
hold
of that which is life
indeed
.
O aTimothy
, guard
bwhat
has been entrusted
to you, avoiding
cworldly
and empty
chatter
and the opposing
arguments
of what
is falsely
called
"knowledge
"--
which some
have professed
and thus agone
astray
1from bthe faith
.
cGrace be with you.