1 Timothy 6 - J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

The behaviour of slaves in the church

6 1-2 Christian slaves should treat their masters with respect, and avoid causing dishonour to the name of God and our teaching. If they have Christian masters they should not despise them because they work for brothers in the faith. Indeed they should serve them all the better because they are thereby benefiting those who have the same faith and love as themselves.

The dangers of false doctrine and the love of money

3-5 This is the sort of thing you should teach, and if anyone tries to teach some doctrinal novelty which is not compatible with sound teaching (which we base on Christ’s own words and which leads to Christ-like living), then he is a conceited idiot! His mind is a morbid jumble of disputation and argument, things which lead to nothing but jealousy, quarrelling, insults and malicious innuendoes—continual wrangling, in fact, among men of warped minds who have lost their real hold on the truth but hope to make some profit out of the Christian religion.

6-8 There is a real profit, of course, but it comes only to those who live contentedly as God would have them live. We brought absolutely nothing with us when we entered the world and we can be sure we shall take absolutely nothing with us when we leave it. Surely then, as far as physical things are concerned, it is sufficient for us to keep our bodies fed and clothed.

9-10 For men who set their hearts on being wealthy expose themselves to temptation. They fall into one of the world’s traps, and lay themselves open to all sorts of silly and wicked desires, which are quite capable of utterly ruining and destroying their souls. For loving money leads to all kinds of evil, and some men in the struggle to be rich have lost their faith and caused themselves untold agonies of mind.

Maintain a fearless witness until the last day

11-12 But you, the man of God, keep clear of such things. Set your heart not on riches, but on goodness, Christ-likeness, faith, love, patience and humility. Fight the worthwhile battle of the faith, keep your grip on that life eternal to which you have been called, and to which you boldly professed your loyalty before many witnesses.

13-16 I charge you in the sight of God who gives us life, and Jesus Christ who fearlessly witnessed to the truth before Pontius Pilate, to keep your commission clean and above reproach until the final coming of Christ. This will be, in his own time, the final d?nouement of God, who is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters, the only source of immortality, the one who lives in unapproachable light, the one whom no mortal eye has ever seen or ever can see. To him be acknowledged all honour and power for ever, amen!

Have a word for the rich

17-19 Tell those who are rich in this present world not to be contemptuous of others, and not to rest the weight of their confidence on the transitory power of wealth but on the living God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in kindly actions, to be ready to give to others and to sympathise with those in distress. Their security should be invested in the life to come so that they may be sure of holding a share in the life which is permanent.

My final appeal

20-21 O Timothy, guard most carefully your divine commission. Avoid the Godless mixture of contradictory notions which is falsely known as “knowledge”—some have followed it and lost their faith. Grace be with you.

PAUL

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1 Timothy 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 As 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; 2 and those having believing masters, let them not slight [them], because they are brethren, but rather let them serve, because they are st...
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1 Timothy 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 Whatever servants be under yoke, deem they their lords worthy all honour, lest the name of the Lord and the doctrine be blasphemed[a]. 2 And they that have faithful lords, despise them not, for they be brethren; but more serve they, for they be faithful and loved, which be partners of beneficence...
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1 Timothy 6 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

6 Servants should respect their bosses in every way. Then people will not say wrong things about God's name and what we teach. 2 Those who work for Christian masters should not take life easy just because the person they work for is a Christian. They should work all the better because they are loved...
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1 Timothy 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake o...
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1 Timothy 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

6 Tell all who labor under the yoke of slavery to treat their masters with honor and respect, whether or not their masters deserve it. This will keep God’s name and doctrine from being smeared. 2 If their masters are believers, then they should not be insolent toward them just because they are your...
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1 Timothy 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

6 Let all who are under the yoke as slaves consider their own masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 And let those who have believing masters not disrespect them because they are brothers, but serve them even more, since those who share in the be...
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1 Timothy 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

6 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 defamed. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those ...
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1 Timothy 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

6 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 defamed. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those ...
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1 Timothy 6 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

6 Let as many servants who are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honor, so that the Name of God and His doctrine are not blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them (because they are brothers). But instead serve them, because they are faithful and bel...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Slaves, Masters and Sound Teaching6 All who live as slaves, ‘under the yoke’ so to speak, should consider their own masters as worthy of all respect, so that people may not say wicked things against the name of God and the teaching. 2 Those who have masters who are also believers should not look do...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

6 Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church;[a] rather they must serve...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

6 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.(A)2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are brothers and sisters; rather, they must serve th...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

The duty of servants toward their masters. Against such as are not satisfied with the word of God. Against covetousness. A good lesson for the rich. 6 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and his precepts are not ill spoken of. ...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

6 All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If 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[a] who are we...
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1 Timothy 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Teaching About Christians Who Were Servants6 All you Christians who are servants must respect your owners and work hard for them. Do not let the name of God and our teaching be spoken against because of poor work. 2 Those who have Christian owners must respect their owners because they are Christia...
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1 Timothy 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Honor Masters6 Let as many (A)bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because th...
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