Serving Masters as Brothers
Instructions to slaves, then a portrait of teachers who treat devotion as a way to profit. Contentment is the real gain, and craving money has pierced some through. Paul charges Timothy to fight the good fight, and tells the rich to hope in our Father instead of wealth.
6 1All under slavery's yoke should consider their own masters worthy of full respect, so our Father's name and the teaching aren't spoken against. 2Those with believing masters must not disrespect them for being brothers; instead serve better, since the ones benefiting are believers, dearly loved. Teach and urge these.
False Teaching Bears Bitter Fruit
3If anyone teaches otherwise, disagreeing with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that fits devotion to God, 4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but sick with obsession over disputes and word-battles, producing envy, strife, slander, and evil suspicions, 5and constant conflict among people with corrupted minds, deprived of truth, who think devotion to God is a way to profit.
6Now godliness with contentment is great gain, 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9But those wanting to grow rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish, harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil; craving it, some have strayed from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
11But you, man of our Father, flee all this. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. a a v11 "Man of our Father" renders a phrase other Bibles give as "man of God" — naming Timothy as one who belongs to the Father, not merely to a distant deity. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life you were called to, and professed the good confession before many witnesses. 13I charge you before our Father, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, b b v13 Jesus's 'good confession' before Pilate was his bold declaration that he is a king and came to bear witness to the truth (see John 18:33–37). 14to keep the command spotless and blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ appears, 15which the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will bring about at the proper time. 16He alone is immortal, living in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17Tell the rich in this present age not to be arrogant or hope in uncertain wealth, but in our Father, who richly gives us everything to enjoy. 18Command them to do good, be rich in good works, generous, willing to share, 19laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so they may grasp the life that is truly life.
20Timothy, guard what's entrusted to you. Avoid godless, empty chatter and contradictions of so-called knowledge, 21for by professing it some have wandered away from the faith. Grace be with you all.
