Serving with Honor (Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)
1 CPDV Whoever are servants under the yoke, let them consider their masters to be worthy of every honor, lest the name and doctrine of the Lord be blasphemed. BSB BSB: All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
2 CPDV But those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather serve them all the more because they are believing and beloved, participants of the same service. Teach and exhort these things. BSB BSB: Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
Reject False Doctrines 3 CPDV If anyone teaches otherwise, and does not consent to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that doctrine which is in accord with piety, BSB BSB: If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
4 CPDV then he is arrogant, knowing nothing, yet languishing amid the questions and quarrels of words. From these arise envy, contention, blasphemy, evil suspicions: BSB BSB: he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
5 CPDV the conflicts of men who have been corrupted in mind and deprived of truth, who consider profit to be piety. BSB BSB: and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
Godliness with Contentment 6 CPDV But piety with sufficiency is great gain. BSB BSB: Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 CPDV For we brought nothing into this world, and there is no doubt that we can take nothing away. BSB BSB: For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
8 CPDV But, having nourishment and some kind of covering, we should be content with these. BSB BSB: But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 CPDV For those who want to become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many useless and harmful desires, which submerge men in destruction and in perdition. BSB BSB: Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
10 CPDV For desire is the root of all evils. Some persons, hungering in this way, have strayed from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows. BSB BSB: For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Fight the Good Fight 11 CPDV But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and truly pursue justice, piety, faith, charity, patience, meekness. BSB BSB: But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12 CPDV Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you have been called, and make a good profession of faith in the sight of many witnesses. BSB BSB: Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
13 CPDV I charge you, in the sight of God, who enlivens all things, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave the testimony of a good profession under Pontius Pilate, BSB BSB: I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:
14 CPDV to observe the commandment, immaculately, irreproachably, unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 CPDV For at the proper time, he shall reveal the blessed and only Power, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, BSB BSB: which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.
16 CPDV who alone holds immortality, and who inhabits the inaccessible light, whom no man has seen, nor even is able to see, to whom is honor and everlasting dominion. Amen. BSB BSB: He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
A Charge to the Rich (Proverbs 23:1–5; James 5:1–6)
17 CPDV Instruct the wealthy of this age not to have a superior attitude, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who offers us everything in abundance to enjoy, BSB BSB: Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
18 CPDV and to do good, to become rich in good works, to donate readily, to share, BSB BSB: Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
19 CPDV to gather for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may obtain true life. BSB BSB: treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Guard the Faith 20 CPDV O Timothy, guard what has been deposited with you, avoiding the voice of profane novelties and of opposing ideas, which are falsely called knowledge. BSB BSB: O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
21 CPDV Certain persons, promising these things, have perished from the faith. May grace be with you. Amen. BSB BSB: which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.