1 Timothy 6
1Let all those who are slaves under a yoke consider their own masters worthy of full honor, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be slandered. 2Those who have believing masters must not look down on them because they are brothers; rather, they should serve them even better, because those who benefit from their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not align themselves with healthy words—those of our Lord Jesus Christ—and the teaching that accords with piety, 4they are clouded by conceit and understand nothing. Instead, they have an unhealthy obsession with controversies and battles over words, which give rise to envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are corrupted in their minds and robbed of the truth, imagining that piety is a means of financial gain.
6Of course, piety with contentment is a great means of gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot take anything out of it either. 8But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with these. 9Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many mindless and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For a root of all kinds of evils is the love of money, and by reaching out for it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many griefs.
11But you, O man of God, flee from these things. Instead, pursue justice, piety, faith, love, endurance, and gentle-heartedness. 12Compete in the good contest of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14to keep the commandment unspotted and irreproachable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which the blessed and only Sovereign will reveal at the proper time—the King of those who reign and Lord of those who exercise lordship, 16the only one who possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no human has seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal might. Amen.
17Command those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20O Timothy, guard the sacred deposit entrusted to you. Turn away from the profane empty-talk and contradictions of what is falsely called “Knowledge,” 21which some, by professing it, have missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace be with you all.