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1Instruct every employee to respect and honor their employers, for this attitude presents to them a clear testimony of God’s truth and renown. Tell them to never provide them with a reason to discredit God’s name because of their actions.[#6:1 Or “those under the yoke of performance” (servitude or slavery). The Greek text clearly refers to slaves and masters, but the Aramaic is somewhat ambiguous and could still be referring to the topic of ch. 5. “Those” would refer to the leadership of the church instead—pastors, deacons, and deaconesses.; #6:1 Or “masters,” also in v. 2.]
2Especially honor and respect employers who are believers and don’t despise them, but serve them even more, for they are fellow believers. They should be at peace with them as beloved members of God’s family. Be faithful to teach them these things as their sacred obligation.
3But if anyone spreads false teaching that does not agree with the healthy instruction of our Lord Jesus, teaching others that holy awe of God is not important, then they prove they know nothing at all! It’s obvious they don’t value or hold dear the healing words of our Lord Jesus Christ.[#6:3 The Aramaic here and in v. 6 literally means “the doctrine of the fear of God.” The fear of God is one of the seven spirits of God, the spirit of the fear of God ( Isa. 11:2–3). To teach there is no fear of God would be leading people away from the Holy Spirit. The fear of God is more than simply loving and respecting God. There are over one hundred references in both the Old and New Testaments that speak of “the fear of God.”]
4They are covered with the clouds of conceit. They are loaded with controversy, and they love to argue their opinions and split hairs. The fruit of their ministry is contention, competition, and evil suspicions.[#6:4 The Aramaic can be translated “sick with controversy.”]
5They add misery to many lives by corrupting their minds and cheating them of the truth. They equate the worship of God with making great sums of money.[#6:5 Or “to be godly is the way to get rich.”]
6We have a “profit” that is greater than theirs—our holy awe of God! To have merely our necessities is to have enough.
7Isn’t it true that our hands were empty when we came into the world, and when we leave this world our hands will be empty again?
8Because of this, food and clothing is enough to make us content.
9But those who crave the wealth of this world slip into spiritual snares. They become trapped by the troubles that come through their foolish and harmful desires, driven by greed and drowning in their own sinful pleasures. And they take others down with them into their corruption and eventual destruction.
10Loving money is a root of all evils. Some people run after it so much that they have given up their faith. Craving more money pushes them away from the faith into error, compounding misery in their lives![#6:10 Or “insatiable greed for money.”]
11Timothy, you are God’s man, so run from all these errors. Instead, chase after true holiness, justice, faithfulness, love, hope, and tender humility.[#6:11 Or “patience.”]
12So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before the multitude of witnesses![#6:12 As translated from the Aramaic.]
13So now, I instruct you before the God of resurrection life and before Jesus, the Anointed One, who demonstrated a beautiful testimony even before Pontius Pilate,[#6:13 Or “the God who resurrects all.”]
14that you follow this commission faithfully with a clear conscience and without blemish until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.[#6:14 Or “without defilement.”]
15Yes, God will make his appearing in his own divine timing, for he is the exalted God, the only powerful One, the King over every king, and the Lord of power![#6:15 By implication, the second coming of Jesus.]
16He alone is the immortal God, living in the unapproachable light of divine glory! No one has ever seen his fullness, nor can they, for all the glory and endless authority of the universe belongs to him, forever and ever. Amen![#6:16 Or “incorruptible God.”]
17To all the rich of this world, I command you not to be wrapped in thoughts of pride over your prosperity, or rely on your wealth, for your riches are unreliable and nothing compared to the living God. Trust instead in the one who lavishes upon us all good things, fulfilling our every need.[#6:17 Or “pleasure.”]
18Remind the wealthy to be rich in remarkable works of extravagant generosity, willing to share with others.
19These spiritual investments will provide a beautiful foundation for their lives and secure for them a great future, as they lay their hands upon the meaning of true life.
20So, my son Timothy, don’t forget all that has been deposited within you. Escape from the empty echoes of men and the perversion of twisted reasoning.[#6:20 Paul uses an endearing variation of Timothy’s name; it could almost be read “Oh Timmy.” This translation includes the words, my son , to make this explicit.; #6:20 This is an Aramaic figure of speech that means literally “daughters of the voice [echoes] of vanity.” The Greek text reads “profane and vain babblings.”; #6:20 As translated from the Aramaic, which also means, “false doctrines.” The Greek is “false [so-called] science.”]
21For those who claim to possess this so-called knowledge have already wandered from the true faith.
May God’s grace empower you always!