Instructions to Servants 1Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count their masters worthy of all honour; lest the name of the Lord and his doctrine be blasphemed. 2But they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but serve them the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who are partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. Reject False Doctrines 3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that doctrine which is according to godliness, 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions, 5Conflicts of men corrupted in mind, and who are destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness. Contentment in Godliness 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world: and certainly we can carry nothing out. 8But having food, and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content. 9For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition. 10For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled themselves in many sorrows. Fight the Good Fight 11But thou, O man of God, fly these things: and pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. 12Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses. 13I charge thee before God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession, 14That thou keep the commandment without spot, blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Which in his times he shall shew who is the Blessed and only Mighty, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16Who only hath immortality, and inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and empire everlasting. Amen. A Charge to the Rich 17Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded, nor to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, (who giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy,) 18To do good, to be rich in good works, to give easily, to communicate to others, 19To lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the true life. Final Guidance 20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding the profane novelties of words, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called. 21Which some promising, have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. |
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