(Vers. 4, 5.)
(V. 4, 5.) If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. He commands that those who deviate from the Catholic faith and refuse to submit to discipline should be despised, especially those who, when convicted and corrected, do not want to yield to their perverse state of mind and take pleasure in and feed on contentions. For he does not allow himself to be overcome by pride, since he rushes into conflict in order to seek favor, which is to be avoided by gentle and good men. For contention is never without a lawsuit, and it would be insufficient if only a lawsuit arose, but there would be blasphemies and enmities, which is foreign to the servants of God. But those who are corrupt in mind, deprived of truth, are considered useful; for they deem the pursuit of wealth and piety of God, not hoping for anything in the future; but rather focused on settling matters in the present, just like worldly sects, which are known to have been founded for immediate gain; I am aware that some people are pleased to hear this, that one must prosper in this life; and therefore it is necessary to abstain from such things.
(Vers. 6.)
(Verse 6.) However, there is great profit in piety with sufficiency. Great riches and acquisition lie in it, if one is content with what they have; for there is more in oneself and in others, who, having acquired through the mercy of God for eternal life, believe that what they have is sufficient for the present, not hesitating to give from it. For every greedy person is impious, and harmful to themselves and others.
(Vers. 7, 8.)
(Vers. 7, 8.) For we have brought nothing into the world, so that we cannot take anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. It is in vain that mortal men strive for wealth and desire to become rich, openly declaring with loud voices, when they know that they have nothing of their own in the world. What does human desire profit, unless it exists as an enemy to itself? For it has brought nothing into the world, and it can take nothing out. What does it instill anxiety in itself, and seeks to gather together? Such will go out from here, as it came. Job also writes this and confesses in his suffering, saying: I came naked from my mother's womb, and naked will I return to the earth... blessed be the name of the Lord (Job I, 21). If the greedy did not hold onto it to their own destruction, a few would save what could benefit many with their own advantage.
(Vers. 9, 10.)
(Verse 9, 10) For those who desire to become rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil, and some people, craving it, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. There is nothing harsher or more distressing than when an ecclesiastic, especially one in a lofty position, strives for the wealth of this world; for it harms not only themselves but also others. For it gives a contrary form to men; for it is necessary that many imitators of it exist for perdition. For the more honorable it is in order, the more it persuades to be imitated, especially in this matter, which is inclined in this life; for greed can admit all evils. Therefore, it is the root of all evils, because in order to fulfill its desires, which is impossible, it perpetrates wickedness, homicides, obscenity, and whatever is of crime; neither secure in the present, because always desirous; and condemned in the future.
(Vers. 11.)
(Verse 11.) But you, O man of God, flee from these things. He urges and commands the man of God to separate himself from this, so that he may be safe here and rewarded with divine rewards in the future. For he is not unjustly to be crowned, who rejects what persuades many.
(Vers. 12.)
(Verse 12) But follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and peace of mind. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession before many witnesses. Because greed is an unjust thing, it commands a person of God to pursue righteousness and godliness, and the other things it mentions; for one cannot avoid it unless they adhere to those things that are contrary to greed. But how can the greedy person be faithful, who denies by his actions what he seems to confess with words? And where is the lover of brotherhood, whose hands are dry? And how can one be patient, who always reaches out for what belongs to others? Or to what extent can one have peace of mind, who is consumed day and night by the greed of desire? But because this wickedness was foreign to the man of God, Timothy, he is commanded to engage in the good fight of faith. For faith is the victory, when all vices and crimes are brought under control, in order to attain the rewards of eternal life. And the confession of this faith is contained among the very basics of faith, as evidenced by the questions and answers of the ecclesiastical monuments.
(Vers. 13-16.)
(Verses 13-16.) I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who testified before Pontius Pilate a good confession: that you keep the commandment unblemished, blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: whom He will show in His own time, the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal power, amen. By great vigilance and foresight, the ruler of the Church gives instructions; for in his person the salvation of the whole people consists. He is not worried about the care of Timothy, but he is so circumspect for the sake of his successors, that they may preserve the order of the Church by following the example of Timothy; they themselves also, handing down the form to the future, would begin from themselves. Finally, he says, in order to keep, an immaculate commandment until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He binds it in such a way that he testifies before God and Christ that he has commanded this; and he instills terror, remembering the passion of Christ, of whose passion he must necessarily be guilty who despises this for the sake of which Christ suffered. Nor has he been silent about the day of judgment, which will come at the appointed time by the will of God, whom he alone pronounces blessed and powerful, the King of kings and Lord: for he alone is the one who possesses his own blessedness and power, received from no one, dominion and kingdom, as well as immortality. All these things the Father has, likewise the Son from the Father: but the light that is inaccessible belongs solely to the Father; for it has never appeared to anyone. Finally, he adds: Whom no man has seen, nor can see. Not because there is a different light of the Son; for it is written in the psalm: And in Your light we shall see light. (Psalm 33:10) That is, the light that the Father has is in the Son: but no one has seen the Father, and therefore the light dwells in the inaccessible. For there is no way for anyone to see God the Father except through Christ, who is from God; he has seen God. But because the Son does everything himself, he is said to appear and be seen. Therefore, that which was said above is the special privilege of the Father: To whom honor and eternal power, amen; this is true.
(Vers. 17, 18, 19.)
(Verse 17, 18, 19.) Instruct the rich of this world not to be arrogant in their wisdom, nor to hope in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment in doing good works; to be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share, storing up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of true life. True life is that which we hope for in the future, which is not limited by sunset or the passing of time; for it is eternal and therefore rightly called truth: for it is the present image of life, not the truth itself. And because the image is not completely empty, it is acquired in this life; and in order to hasten to it, it is learned from the image that surpasses the truth, which is not attained by arrogance or the hope of riches, but by humility and the hope of God, who has promised this. For it is in Him that we must hope, because He provides what is necessary for our needs, not in the abundance itself, but in the source of it. For what hope is there in a transient and uncertain thing? Indeed, since some of them depart; but those who seem to stay in them do not gain any profit from them in the future, but rather loss; except when they share with the needy; for they are not eternal, so as to be preferred to the future life. They make the arrogant ones believe that they promise immortality. We have an example of resurrection in Christ; and Christ is not loved by many in the same way as wealth, of which no example seems to have delivered anyone from death. Christ redeemed us, not with riches; for he himself showed forth the likeness of future life, that despising all these things, we may follow him; that we may come to the immortal and heavenly riches. Therefore, we must strive for this, that we may be rich in good actions, and acquire spiritual riches with these earthly possessions; let us sow on earth, so that we may reap in heaven, where the eternal treasure is stored.
(Vers. 20, 21.)
(Verse 20, 21.) Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'knowledge.' Some have professed this knowledge and have deviated from the faith. Grace be with you. It also reminds you to keep the things that have been said above, and to avoid contrary teachings that only use the name of 'knowledge' but deceive with their false profession, aiming to deceive the innocent. They pretend to have faith, but have turned away from it, bringing about unfaithfulness. And he subscribed with his own hand, saying: Grace be with you.