Προς Τιμοθεον Α΄ 6

1 οσοι εισιν υπο ζυγον δουλοι τους ιδιους δεσποτας πασης τιμης αξιους ηγεισθωσαν ινα μη το ονομα του θεου και η διδασκαλια βλασφημηται

All who are in the position of slaves should regard their masters as deserving of the greatest respect, so that the name of God, and our teaching, may not be maligned.

2 οι δε πιστους εχοντες δεσποτας μη καταφρονειτωσαν οτι αδελφοι εισιν αλλα μαλλον δουλευετωσαν οτι πιστοι εισιν και αγαπητοι οι της ευεργεσιας αντιλαμβανομενοι ταυτα διδασκε και παρακαλει

Those who have Christian masters should not think less of them because they are also followers of Christ, but on the contrary they should serve them all the better, because those who are to benefit by their good work are dear to them as their fellow Christians.

3 ει τις ετεροδιδασκαλει και μη προσερχεται υγιαινουσιν λογοις τοις του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου και τη κατ ευσεβειαν διδασκαλια

Anyone who teaches otherwise, and refuses their assent to sound instruction – the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ – and to the teaching of religion,

4 τετυφωται μηδεν επισταμενος αλλα νοσων περι ζητησεις και λογομαχιας εξ ων γινεται φθονος ερις βλασφημιαι υπονοιαι πονηραι

is puffed up with conceit, not really knowing anything, but having a morbid craving for discussions and arguments. Such things only give rise to envy, quarreling, recriminations, base suspicions,

5 διαπαρατριβαι διεφθαρμενων ανθρωπων τον νουν και απεστερημενων της αληθειας νομιζοντων πορισμον ειναι την ευσεβειαν αφιστασο απο των τοιουτων

and incessant wrangling on the part of these corrupt-minded people who have lost all hold on the truth, and who think of religion only as a source of gain.

6 εστιν δε πορισμος μεγας η ευσεβεια μετα αυταρκειας

Of course religion is a great source of gain – when combined with contentment!

7 ουδεν γαρ εισηνεγκαμεν εις τον κοσμον δηλον οτι ουδε εξενεγκειν τι δυναμεθα

For we brought nothing into the world, because we cannot even carry anything out of it.

8 εχοντες δε διατροφας και σκεπασματα τουτοις αρκεσθησομεθα

So, with food and shelter, we will be content.

9 οι δε βουλομενοι πλουτειν εμπιπτουσιν εις πειρασμον και παγιδα και επιθυμιας πολλας ανοητους και βλαβερας αιτινες βυθιζουσιν τους ανθρωπους εις ολεθρον και απωλειαν

Those who want to be rich fall into the net of temptation, and become the prey of many foolish and harmful ambitions, which plunge people into destruction and ruin.

10 ριζα γαρ παντων των κακων εστιν η φιλαργυρια ης τινες ορεγομενοι απεπλανηθησαν απο της πιστεως και εαυτους περιεπειραν οδυναις πολλαις

Love of money is a source of all kinds of evil; and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith, and have been pierced to the heart by many a regret.

11 συ δε ω ανθρωπε του θεου ταυτα φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην ευσεβειαν πιστιν αγαπην υπομονην πραοτητα

But you must, servant of God, avoid all this. Aim at righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

12 αγωνιζου τον καλον αγωνα της πιστεως επιλαβου της αιωνιου ζωης εις ην εκληθης και ωμολογησας την καλην ομολογιαν ενωπιον πολλων μαρτυρων (aiōnios g166)

Run the great race of the faith, and win the eternal life. It was for this that you received the call, and, in the presence of many witnesses, made the great profession of faith. (aiōnios g166)

13 παραγγελλω σοι ενωπιον του θεου του ζωοποιουντος τα παντα και χριστου ιησου του μαρτυρησαντος επι ποντιου πιλατου την καλην ομολογιαν

I beg you, as in the sight of God, the source of all life, and of Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate made the great profession of faith –

14 τηρησαι σε την εντολην ασπιλον ανεπιληπτον μεχρι της επιφανειας του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

I implore you to keep his command free from stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 ην καιροις ιδιοις δειξει ο μακαριος και μονος δυναστης ο βασιλευς των βασιλευοντων και κυριος των κυριευοντων

This will be brought about in his own time by the one ever-blessed Potentate, the king of all kings and Lord of all lords,

16 ο μονος εχων αθανασιαν φως οικων απροσιτον ον ειδεν ουδεις ανθρωπων ουδε ιδειν δυναται ω τιμη και κρατος αιωνιον αμην (aiōnios g166)

who alone is possessed of immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or ever can see – to whom be ascribed honor and power for ever. Amen. (aiōnios g166)

17 τοις πλουσιοις εν τω νυν αιωνι παραγγελλε μη υψηλοφρονειν μηδε ηλπικεναι επι πλουτου αδηλοτητι αλλ εν τω θεω τω ζωντι τω παρεχοντι ημιν παντα πλουσιως εις απολαυσιν (aiōn g165)

Teach those who are wealthy in this life not to pride themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. (aiōn g165)

18 αγαθοεργειν πλουτειν εν εργοις καλοις ευμεταδοτους ειναι κοινωνικους

Teach them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,

19 αποθησαυριζοντας εαυτοις θεμελιον καλον εις το μελλον ινα επιλαβωνται της αιωνιου ζωης

storing up for themselves what in the future will prove to be a good foundation, so that they may gain the only true life.

20 ω τιμοθεε την παραθηκην φυλαξον εκτρεπομενος τας βεβηλους κενοφωνιας και αντιθεσεις της ψευδωνυμου γνωσεως

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane prattle and contradictions of what some miscall ‘theology,’

21 ην τινες επαγγελλομενοι περι την πιστιν ηστοχησαν η χαρις μετα σου αμην

for there are those who, while asserting their proficiency in it, have yet, as regards the faith, gone altogether astray. God bless you all.