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All who are forced to serve as slaves should consider their masters worthy of full respect. Then people will not speak evil things against God's name and against what we teach. 2 Some slaves have masters who are believers. They shouldn't show their masters disrespect just because they are also believers. Instead, they should serve them even better. That's because their masters are loved by them as believers. These masters are committed to caring for their slaves. 5:1–6:2 As the church leader, Timothy was to treat other believers like family members. They were fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers in God's family. They all had needs and should help take care of one another. Paul took special care to talk about widows in the church. Church elders were one kind of leader. They were to be respected for serving the church faithfully. When they sinned, it had to be dealt with fairly. This was because the church must be a faithful witness to everyone about Jesus. Even when leaders serve Jesus faithfully, people might accuse them of doing wrong. Paul explained a fair system. This system would protect church elders if they were falsely accused. Paul also warned Timothy to be careful about appointing new leaders. Appointing leaders was done by placing hands on people. This set them apart to be leaders who served. Church leaders must be completely committed to turning away from sin. Paul reminded Timothy that no sins stay hidden for ever. Sooner or later people face judgement for their sins. Good works that people do will also be seen and recognised by others. This was true even in how slaves and slave owners treated one another. Slaves who followed Jesus were to serve their masters with respect. Slave owners were to take good care of those who served them.
These are the things you are to teach. Try hard to get the believers to do them. 3 Suppose someone teaches something different from what I have taught. Suppose that person doesn't agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Suppose they don't agree with godly teaching. 4 Then that person is proud and doesn't understand anything. They like to argue more than they should. They can't agree about what words mean. All of this results in wanting what others have. It causes fighting, harmful talk, and evil distrust. 5 It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.
6 You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have. 7 We didn't bring anything into the world. We can't take anything out of it. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that. 9 People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die. 10 Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.
11 But you are a man of God. Run away from all these things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe. 12 Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you. 13 God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus told the truth when he was a witness in front of Pontius Pilate. In the sight of God and Christ, I give you a command. 14 Obey it until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. Obey it completely. Then no one can find fault with it or you. 15 God will bring Jesus back at a time that pleases him. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the greatest King of all. He is the most powerful Lord of all. 16 God is the only one who can't die. He lives in light that no one can get close to. No one has seen him. No one can see him. Honour and power belong to him for ever. Amen.
17 Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share. 19 In this way, they will store up true riches for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.
20 Timothy, guard what God has trusted you with. Turn away from godless chatter. Stay away from opposing ideas that are falsely called knowledge. 21 Some people believe them. By doing that they have turned away from the faith.
May God's grace be with you all.
6:3–21 Some believers in Ephesus liked to cause trouble by disagreeing and arguing. Others thought that following Jesus was a way to get rich. Loving money and trying to get more of it led them to do evil things. Paul told Timothy not to be like those people. Instead, he should be firm in teaching the truth about Jesus as Lord and King. Paul made it very clear that following Jesus doesn't lead people to grow rich. Faithful believers learn to be thankful for what they have and to be happy with it. Timothy was to warn rich believers not to trust in their money. Instead they were to share freely and put their hope in God. Paul explained that following Jesus brings something much better than riches on earth. When Jesus returns his faithful followers will live with him for ever. That is what Paul called the life that really is life.