| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Let as many 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. | 1All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited. |
| 2And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. | 2Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles. |
| 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, | 3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, |
| 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, | 4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, |
| 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. | 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. |
| 6Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | 6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. |
| 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. | 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. |
| 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. | 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. |
| 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. | 9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
| 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. | 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. |
| 11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. | 11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. |
| 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. | 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. |
| 13I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, | 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate: |
| 14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, | 14Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 15which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, | 15which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time. |
| 16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. | 16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. |
| 17Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. | 17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. |
| 18Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, | 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, |
| 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. | 19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. |
| 20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— | 20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,” |
| 21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. | 21which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all. |
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