| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1All 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. | 1All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. |
| 2Those 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. | 2If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. False Teaching and True Riches Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. |
| 3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, | 3Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. |
| 4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, | 4Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. |
| 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. | 5These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. |
| 6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. |
| 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. | 7After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. |
| 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. | 8So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. |
| 9Those 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. | 9But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
| 10For 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. | 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Paul’s Final Instructions |
| 11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. | 11But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. |
| 12Fight 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. | 12Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. |
| 13I 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: | 13And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, |
| 14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 14that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. |
| 15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. | 15For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. |
| 16He 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. | 16He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. |
| 17Instruct 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. | 17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. |
| 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, | 18Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. |
| 19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. | 19By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. |
| 20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” | 20Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. |
| 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all. | 21Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God’s grace be with you all. |
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