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Instructions to Those Who Serve

^1 (C1)All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so ^(C2)that the name of God and our doctrine will not be ^(F1)slandered.² But those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are ^(C1)brothers, but must serve them all the more, because those who ^(F1)partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. ^(C2)Teach and exhort these things.

³ If anyone ^(C1)teaches a different doctrine and does not ^(F1)agree with ^(C2)sound words—those of our Lord Jesus Christ—and with the doctrine ^(C3)conforming to godliness,⁴ he is ^(C1)conceited, understanding nothing but ^(F1)having a morbid interest in ^(C2)controversial questions and ^(C3)disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions,⁵ and constant friction between ^(C1)men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who ^(C2)suppose that ^(F1)godliness is a means of gain.^6 (C1)But godliness actually is a means of ^(C2)great gain, when accompanied by ^(C3)contentment.⁷ For ^(C1)we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.⁸ And if we ^(C1)have food and covering, with these we shall be content.^9 (C1)But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and ^(C2)a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.¹⁰ For ^(C1)the love of money is a root of all ^(F1)sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have ^(C2)wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹ But you, O ^(C1)man of God, ^(C2)flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, ^(C3)faith, ^(C4)love, ^(F1)perseverance, gentleness.^12 (C1)Fight the good fight of ^(C2)faith. ^(C3)Take hold of the eternal life ^(C4)to which you were called, and you made the good ^(C5)confession in the presence of ^(C6)many witnesses.^13 (C1)I charge you in the presence of God, who ^(F1)gives life to all things, and of ^(C2)Christ Jesus, who testified the ^(C3)good confession ^(C4)before Pontius Pilate,¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the ^(C1)appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,¹⁵ which He will ^(F1)bring about at ^(C1)the proper time—He who is ^(C2)the blessed and ^(C3)only Sovereign, ^(C4)the King of ^(F2)kings and ^(C5)Lord of ^(F3)lords,^16 (C1)who alone has immortality and ^(C2)dwells in unapproachable light, ^(C3)whom no man has seen or can see. ^(C1)To Him be honor and eternal might! Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in ^(C1)this present age ^(C2)not to be haughty or to ^(C3)set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(C4)who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in ^(C1)good ^(F1)works, ^(C2)to be generous and ready to share,^19 (C1)storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may ^(C2)take hold of that which is life indeed.

²⁰ O ^(C1)Timothy, guard ^(C2)what has been entrusted to you, turning aside from ^(C3)godless and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called knowledge—

²¹ which some, while professing, have ^(C1)gone astray ^(F1)from ^(C2)the faith. ^(C3)Grace be with ^(F2)you.