1All who are servants under the yoke should treat their own masters as worthy of full honour. Then the name of God and his teaching will not be spoken against.
2Those who have believing masters must not look down on them because they are brothers. Instead they should serve them even better, because those who receive their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach these things, and urge people to do them.
3Someone may teach something different, and not agree with sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching that leads to godliness.
4Such a person is proud and knows nothing. He has a sick craving for arguments and fights about words. From these come envy, strife, insults, and evil suspicions,
5and endless quarrels between people whose minds are corrupt and who have lost the truth. They think that godliness is a way to make money. Keep away from such people.
6But godliness with a contented heart is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.
8So if we have food and clothing, let us be content with that.
9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap. They fall into many foolish and harmful desires that drown people in ruin and destruction.
10For the love of money is the root of all evil. Some have longed for it, and have wandered away from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11But you, man of God, run away from these things. Go after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life. God called you to it, and you made a good confession in front of many witnesses.
13In the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who made a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you:
14keep this command without stain, so that no one can blame you, until our Lord Jesus Christ appears.
15God will show him at the right time. God is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
16He alone cannot die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has seen him, and no one can see him. To him be honour and power for ever. Amen.
17Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to trust in riches, which are so uncertain, but in the living God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy.
18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to give freely, and to be glad to share.
19In this way they store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, so that they may take hold of eternal life.
20Timothy, guard what has been put into your trust. Keep away from godless, empty talk, and from the arguments of what is falsely called knowledge.
21Some have claimed to have it, and have wandered away from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. «The first letter to Timothy was written from Laodicea, the chief city of Phrygia Pacatiana.»