Instructions to Servants
(Ephesians 6:5-9)

1As many as are under a yoke as slaves, let them esteem the own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching should not be blasphemed. 2Now those having believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers; but rather, let them serve them, because those being helped by the good service are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Reject False Doctrines

3If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not draw near, being sound in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching according to godliness, 4he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but unhealthy about controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant frictions among men corrupted in mind and destitute of the truth, holding godliness to be a means of gain.a

Contentment in Godliness

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, becauseb neither are we able to carry out anything. 8But having sustenance and coverings, with these we will be content.

9But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, which some, stretching after, have been seduced away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Fight the Good Fight

11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and also did confess the good confession before many witnesses.

13I charge you before God, the One giving life to all things, and Christ Jesus, the One having testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14for you to keep the commandment, without stain, above reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which He will display in the own seasons, blessed and alone Sovereign, the King of those being kings, and the Lord of those being lords, 16alone having immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one of men has seen nor is able to see, to whom be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

A Charge to the Rich

17Instruct the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to have hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God, the One richly providing us all things for enjoyment; 18to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous in distributing, ready to share, 19treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is indeed life.

Final Guidance

20O Timothy, guard the deposit committed to you, avoiding profane, empty babblings, and opposing arguments falsely called knowledge, 21which some professing, have gone astray from the faith.

Grace be with you all.c