Paul closes the letter with instructions for bondservants, a warning against those who treat godliness as a means of gain, the call to flee the love of money and pursue righteousness, and the final charge to keep the commandment without spot until the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ and to guard the deposit.
1 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 of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17 Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Source: ebible.org
Bondservants are to honor their masters so that the name of God and the doctrine are not blasphemed. Those with believing masters are to serve them all the more. Anyone who teaches different doctrine and does not consent to the sound words of the Lord Jesus and the teaching that accords with godliness is conceited, obsessed with disputes, and treats godliness as a means of gain. Timothy is to withdraw from such.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing in and take nothing out. Food and clothing are enough. Those determined to be rich fall into temptation and harmful desires that drown people in ruin. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil; some have already been led astray from the faith by it.
The man of God is to flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. He is to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life to which he was called. The charge is given before God and Christ Jesus to keep the commandment without spot until the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, which the blessed and only Ruler will show at the proper time.
Those rich in the present age are not to be arrogant or set their hope on uncertain riches, but on the living God who richly provides. They are to do good, be rich in good works, and be ready to share, laying up a good foundation for the future. Timothy is to guard the deposit, turning away from empty chatter and the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, by which some have wandered from the faith. Grace closes the letter.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. The appearing has taken place in the judgment that ended the old age. The deposit has been given. We flee the love of money, pursue the virtues of the new life, and guard what has been committed to us.
Where does the love of money or the treatment of godliness as a means of gain still compete with the call to contentment and the guarding of the deposit?