Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.

Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.

For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.

In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,

Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.

The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them!

For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.