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.

As many as are servants under a yoke, their own masters worthy of all honour let them reckon, that the name of God and the teaching may not be evil spoken of;

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

and those having believing masters, let them not slight, because they are brethren, but rather let them serve, because they are stedfast and beloved, who of the benefit are partaking. These things be teaching and exhorting;

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.

if any one be teaching otherwise, and do not consent to sound words -- those of our Lord Jesus Christ -- and to the teaching according to piety,

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 proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings,

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.

wranglings of men wholly corrupted in mind, and destitute of the truth, supposing the piety to be gain; depart from such;

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

but it is great gain -- the piety with contentment;

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

for nothing did we bring into the world -- manifest that we are able to carry nothing out;

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

but having food and raiment -- with these we shall suffice ourselves;

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.

and those wishing to be rich, do fall into temptation and a snare, and many desires, foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin and destruction,

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 a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;

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.

and thou, O man of God, these things flee, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness;

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.

be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession 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.

I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,

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

that thou keep the command unspotted, unblameable, till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 in His own times He shall shew -- the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the 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 only is having immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no one of men did see, nor is able to see, to whom honour and might age-during! Amen.

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.

Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us all things richly 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 ready to impart, willing to communicate,

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!

treasuring up to themselves a right foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life age-during.

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 Timotheus, the thing entrusted guard thou, avoiding the profane vain-words and opposition of the falsely-named knowledge,

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.

which certain professing -- concerning the faith did swerve; the grace with you. Amen.