from Biblica1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
False teachers and the love of money
2Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[1] of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.6But 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, we will be content with that.9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Final charge to Timothy
11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,15which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no-one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen.17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,21which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
1Които са слуги под игото на робството, нека смятат господарите си достойни за всяка почит, за да не се хули Божието име и учението. (Isa 52:5; Eze 36:23; Ro 2:24; Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; Tit 2:5; Tit 2:8; Tit 2:9; 1Pe 2:18)2И онези, които имат вярващи господари, да не ги презират, тъй като са братя; а нека още повече им работят, защото онези, които се ползват от усърдието им, са вярващи и възлюбени. Това поучавай и увещавай. (Col 4:1; 1Ti 4:11)
За лъжеучителите
3И ако някой предава друго учение и не се съобразява със здравите думи на нашия Господ Исус Христос и с учението, което е според благочестието, (1Co 2:2; 1Ti 1:3; 1Ti 1:10; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 4:3; Tit 1:1; Tit 1:9)4той се е възгордял и не знае нищо, а има болестно желание за разисквания и препирни за незначителни неща, от които произлизат завист, разпри, хули, лукави подозрения, (1Co 8:2; 1Ti 1:4; 1Ti 1:7; 2Ti 2:23; Tit 3:9)5кавги между човеци с развратен ум и лишени от истината, които мислят, че благочестието е средство за печалба. (Ro 16:17; 1Co 11:16; 1Ti 1:6; 2Ti 3:5; 2Ti 3:8; Tit 1:11; 1Pe 2:3)6А благочестието с удовлетворение е голяма печалба; (Ps 37:16; Pr 15:16; Pr 15:17; Pr 16:8; Heb 13:5)7защото не сме внесли нищо в света, нито можем да изнесем нещо. (Job 1:21; Ps 49:17; Pr 27:24; Ec 5:15)8Като имаме прехрана и облекло, нека с това бъдем доволни. (Ge 28:20; Heb 13:5)9А които ламтят за обогатяване, падат в изкушение, в примка и в много глупави и вредни страсти, които потопяват човеците в разорение и погибел. (Pr 15:27; Pr 20:21; Pr 28:20; Mt 13:22; Mr 4:19; Lu 12:15; 1Ti 1:19; 1Ti 3:7; Jas 5:1)10Защото сребролюбието е корен на всякакви злини, към което като се стремяха някои, те се отстраниха от вярата и пронизаха себе си с много скърби. (Ex 23:8; De 16:19)