The rich in this world are the members of the Christian community who are wealthy. In this world can be interpreted to refer either to physical existence as contrasted to spiritual existence, hence Good News Translation “rich in the things of this life,” or to the present age contrasted to the coming one, hence New Revised Standard Version “who in the present age are rich.”

The word for charge is the same word used in 1.3 and 4.11 (“command”). In this context it carries the meaning of “warn” or “strongly urge.” Haughty is literally “to think of exalted things” but with the meaning “to be arrogant,” that is, to act in such a way as to give the impression that one is more important than anyone else. Other ways of rendering haughty are “in their hearts they think they are great,” “they think that they are chiefs,” or figuratively “have rising hearts.”

Set their hopes translates the perfect infinitive of the verb “to hope.” One may also translate this term as “set their heart on” or “trust in.” The expression that follows in Greek is literally “the uncertainty of riches,” and this is the biblical way of saying that riches are uncertain. A more natural translation of the expression is reflected in Good News Translation. Wealth is characterized as uncertain in the sense that it is temporary and is not very dependable in providing for people’s needs. Uncertain riches may also be expressed as “money that will not last” or “abundance of material things that are easily lost (or, will easily disappear).” In contrast to wealth, which is impermanent and undependable, is God, who can always be trusted to provide for all that people need to enjoy life and to live it to the full. There is a play on words here: riches are uncertain, but God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. To enjoy may be expressed as “to enjoy life,” “to live happily,” or “to have lives full of joy.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• You must warn those people who have lots of things in this life not to think in their hearts that they are great, nor to trust in money (or, the abundance of things), which is easily lost. Instead they should trust in God, who generously (or, wholeheartedly) gives us everything we need to enjoy life.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .