Instructions to Servants

(Ephesians 6:5-9)

1As many as are servants under a yoke, their own masters worthy of all honour let them reckon, that the name of God and the teaching may not be evil spoken of; 2and those having believing masters, let them not slight [them], because they are brethren, but rather let them serve, because they are stedfast and beloved, who of the benefit are partaking. These things be teaching and exhorting;

Reject False Doctrines

3if any one be teaching otherwise, and do not consent to sound words — those of our Lord Jesus Christ — and to the teaching according to piety, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and word-striving, out of which doth come envy, strife, evil-speakings, evil-surmisings, 5wranglings of men wholly corrupted in mind, and destitute of the truth, supposing the piety to be gain; depart from such;

Contentment in Godliness

6but it is great gain — the piety with contentment; 7for nothing did we bring into the world — [it is] manifest that we are able to carry nothing out; 8but having food and raiment — with these we shall suffice ourselves; 9and those wishing to be rich, do fall into temptation and a snare, and many desires, foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin and destruction, 10for a root of all the evils is the love of money, which certain longing for did go astray from the faith, and themselves did pierce through with many sorrows;

Fight the Good Fight

11and thou, O man of God, these things flee, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness; 12be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses. 13I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession, 14that thou keep the command unspotted, unblameable, till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which in His own times He shall shew — the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords, 16who only is having immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable, whom no one of men did see, nor is able to see, to whom [is] honour and might age-during! Amen.

A Charge to the Rich

17Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us all things richly for enjoyment; — 18to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate, 19treasuring up to themselves a right foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life age-during.

Final Guidance

20O Timotheus, the thing entrusted guard thou, avoiding the profane vain-words and opposition of the falsely-named knowledge, 21which certain professing — concerning the faith did swerve; the grace [is] with you. Amen.