7 For we brought nothing into this world,1 and it is acertain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be acontent.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kindsof evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The Good Confession
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus awho witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, Hewhois the blessed and only1 Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in aunapproachable light, bwhom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
Instructions to the Rich
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain ariches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things bto enjoy.
18Letthem do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19astoring up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Guard the Faith
20 O Timothy! aGuard what was committed to your trust, bavoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Assuming the Pauline authorship the facts shape up after this fashion. Paul had been in Ephesus (I Timothy 1:3) after his arrival from Rome, which was certainly before the burning of Rome in AD 64. He had left Timothy in charge of the work in Ephesus and has gone on into Macedonia (I Timothy 1:3), possibly to Philippi as he had hoped (Philippians 2:24). He wishes to help Timothy meet the problems of doctrine (against the Gnostics), discipline, and church training which are increasingly urgent. There are personal touches of a natural kind about Timothy's own growth and leadership. There are wise words here from the greatest of all preachers to a young minister whom Paul loved.
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