1 Tim. 6:16. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
So, if His dominion is eternal, then you must not fear, even though it is not revealed now. If His honor is eternal, then you must not despair, even though He is not honored now. We can only do this blamelessly — that is, glorify Him, and not curiously investigate Him. The apostle explains the teaching about God here in a timely manner. For since he called God as a witness, he also describes His glory, in order to move the listener more deeply.
1 Tim. 6:17. Those who are rich in the present age.
There are also other rich people, but not in the present age, rather in the future one — these are the righteous.
1 Tim. 6:17. Exhort them not to think highly of themselves.
For wealth arouses arrogance and vainglory.
1 Tim. 6:17. And they hoped not in uncertain riches.
Immediately he humbles them. Why, he says, do you boast in a support that is unfaithful, easily destroyed, and unstable?
1 Tim. 6:17. But on the living God, who gives us all things richly for enjoyment.
That is, air, water, light, the changes of seasons, times, and everything else He gave with greater generosity, although selfishness attributes to itself everything it receives. From this learn that God enriched man by giving him everything without division. Therefore it is in vain that anyone grieves over being poor.
1 Tim. 6:18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works.
From the general instruction "exhort" them "to do good" the following also follows: if you wish to become rich, become rich in doing good.
1 Tim. 6:18. Ready to give.
This refers to money.
1 Tim. 6:18. Willing to share.
This refers to love. By sociable, understand talkative, affable people.
1 Tim. 6:19. Laying up in store for themselves a treasure, a good foundation for the future.
Where there is a foundation, everything is firm and immovable. And since the blessings of virtue and of the age to come are constant, the apostle also mentioned this in regard to the foundation.
1 Tim. 6:19. To attain eternal life.
For the performance of good deeds, which he called the foundation, can procure the enjoyment of that life.
1 Tim. 6:20. O Timothy! Guard what has been entrusted to you.
Keep all that I have commanded you, for these are the commandments of the Lord; take nothing away from them.
1 Tim. 6:20. Turning away from ungodly empty talk.
Namely, impure and filthy ones. Consequently, there exists empty talk that is not foul. Saint John Chrysostom understands by this word novelties of teaching – κενοφωνίας – having written, it seems, this word with the diphthong αι (καινοφωνίας).
1 Tim. 6:20. And contradictions of falsely-named knowledge.