Serving with Honor (Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)
1 ULT As many as are slaves under a yoke, let them consider their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not 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 ULT But the ones having believing masters, let them not despise{ them} because they are brothers, but rather, let them serve{ them} because the ones taking the benefaction are believers and beloved. Teach and urge 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 ULT If anyone is teaching differently and does not come to the healthy words, the ones of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching according to godliness, BSB BSB: If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
4 ULT he is puffed up, understanding nothing, but being sick with controversies and battles about words, from which come envy, strife, blasphemies, 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 ULT constant friction of men having been corrupted{ in} the mind and having been deprived of the truth, considering godliness to be a means of gain. 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 ULT But godliness with contentment is great gain. BSB BSB: Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 ULT For we brought nothing into the world, that neither are we able to take anything out. BSB BSB: For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
8 ULT But having food and covering, with these we will be satisfied. BSB BSB: But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 ULT But the ones wanting to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, whatever sinks men into ruin and destruction. 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 ULT For a root of all the evils is the love of money, which desiring, some have been led away from the faith and have pierced themselves with 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 ULT But you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. BSB BSB: But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12 ULT Fight the good fight of the faith, grasp eternal life, to which you were called and{ for which} you confessed the good confession before 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 ULT I command you before God, the one making all alive, and Christ Jesus, the one having testified the good confession before 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 ULT that you keep the commandment spotless, irreproachable, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, BSB BSB: Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 ULT which in its own times the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of the ones reigning and Lord of the ones ruling, will reveal, 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 ULT the only One having immortality, dwelling{ in} unapproachable light, whom no one of men has seen, nor is able to see, to whom{ be} honor and eternal power. 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 ULT Command the rich in the present age not to be proud, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, the one providing us all things richly for enjoyment, 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 ULT to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, BSB BSB: Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
19 ULT storing up for themselves a good foundation for what is coming, so that they may grasp the real 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 ULT O Timothy, guard the deposit, turning away from the profane, empty sayings and oppositions of falsely- named 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 ULT which some, professing, have missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace{ be} with you. 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.