Working through 1Ti 2.10 tonight, dealing with the word θεοσέβεια (theosebeia, an NT hapax) I came across a citation to 2Cl 20.4. The whole chapter, however, provokes thought. The below edition is Ehrman's:
(1) But neither should this thought disturb you, that we see the unjust becoming rich while the slaves of God suffer in dire straights. (2) We need to have faith, brothers and sisters! We are competing in the contest of the living God, training in the present life that we may be crowned in the one to come. (3) No one who is upright receives the fruit of his labor quickly; he instead waits for it. (4) For if God were to reward the upright immediately, we would straightaway be engaged in commerce rather than devotion to God. For we would appear to be upright not for the sake of piety but for a profit. And for this reason, a divine judgment harms the spirit that is not upright and burdens it with chains.
(5) To the only invisible God, the Father of truth, who sent us the savior and founder of incorruptibility, through whom he also revealed to us the truth and the heavenly life — to him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2Cl 20, Ehrman)
Where to begin?! The whole thing is encouraging and challenging to me. This is, of course, not Scripture. But it is the reflection of a Christian upon the living of the Christian life from the very early Christian era (circa 140 AD) and as such is valuable to consider.
The bit about immediate rewards for those devoted to God implying commerce and not devotion is an interesting thought. And it is true. Pursuit of godliness should never be the means to an end (e.g. fire insurance); the only viable and proper end of the pursuit of godliness must be the honoring and worship of God Himself. We glorify God by serving Him and seeking to live according to His will.
There are also similarities with the Pastoral Epistles. Check out verse 2 in light of 2Ti 2.5. And verse 5 in light of 1Ti 1.17. Also, “slaves of God” is a thoroughly Pauline image.