as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be spoken against. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but they must serve them all the better, because those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produce envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is itself great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the proper timeóhe who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with everything to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that life which is life indeed. 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. First Timothy, page 1 The Second Letter of Paul to Timothy