Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Timothy 6
Slaves and the Name of God
All who are under the yoke as slaves should regard their own masters as worthy of full honor, so that God’s name and the teaching are not slandered. Those who have believing masters must not disrespect them because they are brothers and sisters; rather, they should serve them all the more because those who receive the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
Godliness with Contentment
If anyone teaches differently and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, that person is conceited, understanding nothing, but has an unhealthy craving for controversies and disputes about words. From these come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people whose minds are corrupted and who have been deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. Those who want to be rich fall into testing and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
Fight the Good Fight of Trust
But you, person of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, trust, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of trust. Take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession before many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, to keep the command without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the proper time, the only one who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Charge the Rich to Be Rich in Good Works
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be arrogant or set their hope on uncertain wealth, but on God, who richly provides us everything for enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Guard What Was Entrusted to You
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from godless empty talk and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing so have missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace be with you.