New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.
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Those who are under the bondage of slavery should consider their own masters as worthy of full respect so that God's name and our teaching won't get a bad reputation.
2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.
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And those who have masters who are believers shouldn't look down on them because they are brothers. Instead, they should serve them more faithfully, because the people who benefit from your good service are believers who are loved. Teach and encourage these things.
3 Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness,
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If anyone teaches anything different and doesn't agree with sound teaching about our Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that is consistent with godliness,
4 is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,
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that person is conceited. They don't understand anything but have a sick obsession with debates and arguments. This creates jealousy, conflict, verbal abuse, and evil suspicions.
5 and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
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There is constant bickering between people whose minds are ruined and who have been robbed of the truth. They think that godliness is a way to make money!
6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;
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Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy with what you already have.
7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it;
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We didn't bring anything into the world and so we can't take anything out of it:
8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
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we'll be happy with food and clothing.
9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
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But people who are trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
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The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal.
11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
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But as for you, man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
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Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab hold of eternal life—you were called to it, and you made a good confession of it in the presence of many witnesses.
13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
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I command you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who made the good confession when testifying before Pontius Pilate.
14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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Obey this order without fault or failure until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
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The timing of this appearance is revealed by God alone, who is the blessed and only master, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
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He alone has immortality and lives in light that no one can come near. No human being has ever seen or is able to see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him. Amen.
17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
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Tell people who are rich at this time not to become egotistical and not to place their hope on their finances, which are uncertain. Instead, they need to hope in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment.
18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,
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Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others.
19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
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When they do these things, they will save a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take hold of what is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;
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Timothy, protect what has been given to you in trust. Avoid godless and pointless discussions and the contradictory claims of so-called "knowledge."
21 by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you.
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When some people adopted this false knowledge, they missed the goal of faith. May grace be with you all.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible