Serving with Honor (Ephesians 6:5–9; Colossians 3:22–25)
1 UST All{ believers} who are slaves should treat their masters as people whom they should respect in every way. That way, no one will insult God or what we teach. 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 UST { Some believers who are} slaves have masters who trust in{ Jesus}. Those slaves should not disrespect their masters because they are fellow believers. Instead, since the masters for whom they do what is good are people who trust in{ Jesus} and whom God loves, those slaves should work for their masters. Instruct people about those things and tell them to do them. 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 UST Some people teach things that are different{ from what is true}. They do not accept the right message that comes from our Lord Jesus the Messiah. They do not accept what we teach that enables people to honor God. BSB BSB: If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
4 UST These people are prideful. They know very little, but they obsess over resolving controversial issues and debating what words mean. When people act in that way, they become jealous of others. They fight with each other. They insult each other. They act in evil ways by suspecting others. 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 UST They frequently irritate each other. These are people who can no longer think properly. They cannot learn what is true. They think that honoring God is a good way to acquire money. 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 UST However, we do acquire something valuable when we honor God while we are grateful for whatever we have. BSB BSB: Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 UST { We should focus on acquiring things besides money} because we owned nothing when our mothers gave birth to us. Indeed, we will no longer own anything when we die. BSB BSB: For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
8 UST So, we should be content as long as we can eat and have clothes to wear. BSB BSB: But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
9 UST As for people who desire to become wealthy, they often think about sinning. They cannot stop what they are doing. The things that they want are senseless and bad for them, and they will eventually destroy these people. 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 UST { That is} because people do all sorts of evil things when they strongly desire to have money. When some people started desiring money, they stopped trusting in{ Jesus}. By doing that, they have made themselves sorrowful in many ways. 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 UST However, you are a man who serves God. You must avoid those{ evil} things. Instead, you should always try to do what is right. You should honor God. You should trust in{ Jesus}. You should love{ others}. You should persevere{ when difficult things happen to you}. You should be gentle{ with people}. BSB BSB: But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12 UST You should persist in trusting in{ Jesus} just as soldiers battle their enemies. You should make sure that you will live with God forever. God chose you for that. Also, that is why you claimed that you trusted in Jesus while many people listened to you. 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 UST God is the one who enables everything that exists to live. Jesus the Messiah is the one who declared what was true when he was on trial before Pontius Pilate. They authorize what I am about to tell you to do. 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 UST You must obey what God has commanded. You should obey completely. No one should be able to rightly accuse you of doing anything wrong. Continue to obey until our Lord Jesus the Messiah returns{ to this world}. BSB BSB: Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 UST God will cause Jesus to return at the right time. We praise God! There are no rulers more powerful than he is. He is king over all other kings. He is lord over all other 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 UST God is the only one who can never die. His place{ in heaven} is so bright that no one can go near it! No human has looked at him, and no human can look at him. Let us praise him and acknowledge that he is powerful forever! May it be so! 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 UST You should tell believers who are wealthy right now that they should not think too highly of themselves. They should not trust in all the things that they have, because they cannot be certain how long they will have them. Instead, they should trust in God. He is the one who abundantly gives us everything that we have so that we can enjoy it. 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 UST { Tell those wealthy believers that} they should do very many good things. They should be ready to give away{ what they have}. BSB BSB: Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
19 UST { If they do those things,} they will establish the good things that they will have when God renews this world.{ When they do those things,} they make sure that they will truly live{ with God}. 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 UST Timothy, carefully preserve the true message that God has given to you. Refuse to listen when people say things that mean nothing and that have nothing to do with God. Do not pay attention when people argue against the good news, using what they claim is true. It is not really true. BSB BSB: O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
21 UST The people who claim those things have failed to persist in trusting in{ Jesus}.{ I pray that God will} be kind to you all. 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.