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1Let all who are under a yoke as slavesa regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, 2so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
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Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are 3brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. 4Teach and urge these things.
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If anyone 5teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with 6the soundb words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching 7that accords with godliness,
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8he is puffed up with conceit and 9understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for 10controversy and for 11quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,
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and constant friction among people 12who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, 13imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
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But 17if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
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But 18those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, 19into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that 20plunge people into ruin and destruction.
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For the love of money is a root of 21all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
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But as for you, 22O man of God, 23flee these things. 24Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
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25Fight the good fight of the faith. 26Take hold of the eternal life 27to which you were called and about which you made 28the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
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29I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, 30who in his testimony befored Pontius Pilate made 31the good confession,
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to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until 32the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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which he will display 33at the proper time--he who is 34the blessed and only Sovereign, 35the King of kings and Lord of lords,
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36who alone has immortality, 37who dwells in 38unapproachable light, 39whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
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As for the rich in 40this present age, charge them 41not to be haughty, nor 42to set their hopes on 43the uncertainty of riches, but on God, 44who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
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thus 47storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may 48take hold of 49that which is truly life.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)