Instructions to Those Who Minister
1 (A)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so (B)that the name of God and our doctrine will not be (a)spoken against.
2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are (C)brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who (b)partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. (D)Teach and (c)preach these principles.
3 If anyone (E)advocates a different doctrine and does not (d)agree with (F)sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine (G)conforming to godliness,
4 he is (H)conceited and understands nothing; but he (e)has a morbid interest in (I)controversial questions and (J)disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between (K)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who (L)suppose that (f)godliness is a means of gain.
6 (M)But godliness actually is a means of (N)great gain when accompanied by (O)contentment.
7 For (P)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
8 If we (Q)have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
9 (R)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and (S)a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For (T)the love of money is a root of all (g)sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have (U)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But (V)flee from these things, you (W)man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, (X)faith, (Y)love, (h)perseverance and gentleness.
12 (Z)Fight the good fight of (AA)faith; (AB)take hold of the eternal life (AC)to which you were called, and you made the good (AD)confession in the presence of (AE)many witnesses.
13 (AF)I charge you in the presence of God, who (i)gives life to all things, and of (AG)Christ Jesus, who testified the (AH)good confession (AI)before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the (AJ)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 which He will (j)bring about at (AK)the proper time—He who is (AL)the blessed and (AM)only Sovereign, (AN)the King of (k)kings and (AO)Lord of (l)lords,
16 (AP)who alone possesses immortality and (AQ)dwells in unapproachable light, (AR)whom no man has seen or can see. (AS)To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
17 Instruct those who are rich in (AT)this present world (AU)not to be conceited or to (AV)fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, (AW)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in (AX)good (m)works, (AY)to be generous and ready to share,
19 (AZ)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may (BA)take hold of that which is life indeed.
Footnotes:
a.
1 Timothy 6:1: ['Or ', blasphemed]
b.
1 Timothy 6:2: ['Or ', devote themselves to kindness]
c.
1 Timothy 6:2: ['Lit ', exhort, urge]
d.
1 Timothy 6:3: ['Lit ', come to, '; or ', come with]
e.
1 Timothy 6:4: ['Lit ', is sick about]
f.
1 Timothy 6:5: ['Or ', religion]
g.
1 Timothy 6:10: ['Lit ', the evils]
h.
1 Timothy 6:11: ['Or ', steadfastness]
i.
1 Timothy 6:13: ['Or ', preserves alive]
j.
1 Timothy 6:15: ['Lit ', show]
k.
1 Timothy 6:15: ['Lit ', those who reign as kings]
l.
1 Timothy 6:15: ['Lit ', those who rule as lords]
m.
1 Timothy 6:18: ['Or ', deeds]
n.
1 Timothy 6:21: ['Lit ', concerning]