6:1 LET ALL who are under the yoke as bond servants esteem their own [personal] masters worthy of honor {and} fullest respect, so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] may not be brought into disrepute {and} blasphemed. |
6:2 Let those who have believing masters not be disrespectful {or} scornful [to them] on the grounds that they are brothers [in Christ]; rather, they should serve [them all the better] because those who benefit by their kindly service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. |
6:3 But if anyone teaches otherwise and does not assent to the sound {and} wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and the teaching which is in agreement with godliness (piety toward God), |
6:4 He is puffed up with pride {and} stupefied with conceit, [although he is] woefully ignorant. He has a morbid fondness for controversy and disputes {and} strife about words, which result in (produce) envy {and} jealousy, quarrels {and} dissension, abuse {and} insults {and} slander, and base suspicions, |
6:5 And protracted wrangling {and} wearing discussion {and} perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness {or} righteousness is a source of profit [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. {From such withdraw.} |
6:6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great {and} abundant gain. |
6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and {obviously} we cannot take anything out of the world; |
6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied). |
6:9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin {and} destruction and miserable perishing. |
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs. |
6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at {and} pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart. |
6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. |
6:13 In the presence of God, Who preserves alive all living things, and of Christ Jesus, Who in His testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I [solemnly] charge you |
6:14 To keep all His precepts unsullied {and} flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One), |
6:15 Which [appearing] will be shown forth in His own proper time by the blessed, only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and the Lord of lords, |
6:16 Who alone has immortality [in the sense of exemption from every kind of death] and lives in unapproachable light, Whom no man has ever seen or can see. Unto Him be honor and everlasting power {and} dominion. Amen (so be it). |
6:17 As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud {and} arrogant {and} contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly {and} ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment. |
6:18 [Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal {and} generous of heart, ready to share [with others], |
6:19 In this way laying up for themselves [the riches that endure forever as] a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed. |
6:20 O Timothy, guard {and} keep the deposit entrusted [to you]! Turn away from the irreverent babble {and} godless chatter, with the vain {and} empty {and} worldly phrases, and the subtleties {and} the contradictions in what is falsely called knowledge {and} spiritual illumination. |
6:21 [For] by making such profession some have erred (missed the mark) as regards the faith. Grace (divine favor and blessing) be with you all! {Amen (so be it).} |