1 L et all who are under the yoke as bond servants esteem their own masters worthy of honor and fullest respect, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be brought into disrepute and blasphemed.

Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

2 L et those who have believing masters not be disrespectful or scornful on the grounds that they are brothers; rather, they should serve because those who benefit by their kindly service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.

Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

3 B ut 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),

If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

4 H e is puffed up with pride and stupefied with conceit, 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,

he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

5 A nd 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. From such withdraw.

constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

6 g odliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 F or we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world;

For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

8 B ut if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).

But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9 B ut 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.

But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

10 F or 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 pangs.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 B ut 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.

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

12 F ight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and you confessed the good confession before many witnesses.

Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

13 I n 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 charge you

I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

14 T o keep all His precepts unsullied and flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One),

that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

15 W hich will be shown forth in His own proper time by the blessed, only Sovereign (Ruler), the King of kings and the Lord of lords,

which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 W ho alone has immortality 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).

who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17 A s 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 enjoyment.

Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

18 t o do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share,

that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 I n this way laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.

laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

20 O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted! 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.

Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;

21 b y 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).

which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.