1 A ll you Christians who are servants must respect your owners and work hard for them. Do not let the name of God and our teaching be spoken against because of poor work.

Let 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.

2 T hose who have Christian owners must respect their owners because they are Christian brothers. They should work hard for them because much-loved Christian brothers are being helped by their work. Teach and preach these things. Live Like God Wants You to Live

Let 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.

3 S omeone may teach something else. He may not agree with the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. He may not teach you to live God-like lives.

But 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),

4 S uch a person is full of pride and knows nothing. He wastes time on questions and argues about things that are not important. This makes those he teaches jealous and they want to fight. They talk bad and have bad ideas about others.

He 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,

5 M en who are not able to use their minds in the right way because of sin argue all the time. They do not have the truth. They think religion is a way to get much for themselves.

And 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.

6 A God-like life gives us much when we are happy for what we have.

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

7 W e came into this world with nothing. For sure, when we die, we will take nothing with us.

For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world;

8 I f we have food and clothing, let us be happy.

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

9 B ut men who want lots of money are tempted. They are trapped into doing all kinds of foolish things and things which hurt them. These things drag them into sin and will destroy them.

But 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.

10 T he love of money is the beginning of all kinds of sin. Some people have turned from the faith because of their love for money. They have made much pain for themselves because of this. Fight the Good Fight of Faith

For 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.

11 B ut you, man of God, turn away from all these sinful things. Work at being right with God. Live a God-like life. Have faith and love. Be willing to wait. Have a kind heart.

But 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.

12 F ight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the life that lasts forever. You were chosen to receive it. You have spoken well about this life in front of many people.

Fight 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.

13 I tell you this before God Who gives life to all people and before Jesus Christ Who spoke well in front of Pontius Pilate.

In 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

14 Y ou must do all our Lord Jesus Christ said so no one can speak against you. Do this until He comes again.

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

15 A t the right time, we will be shown that God is the One Who has all power. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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

16 H e can never die. He lives in a light so bright that no man can go near Him. No man has ever seen God or can see Him. Honor and power belong to Him forever. Let it be so. Paul’s Last Words to Timothy

Who 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).

17 T ell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money. Money cannot be trusted. They should put their trust in God. He gives us all we need for our happiness.

As 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.

18 T ell them to do good and be rich in good works. They should give much to those in need and be ready to share.

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

19 T hen they will be gathering together riches for themselves. These good things are what they will build on for the future. Then they will have the only true life!

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

20 T imothy, keep safe what God has trusted you with. Turn away from foolish talk. Do not argue with those who think they know so much. They know less than they think they do.

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.

21 S ome people have gone after much learning. It has proved to be false and they have turned away from the faith. May you have God’s loving-favor.

by 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).