1 Timothy 6
Big idea: Paul closes where he began — the fight over 'sound words' — but now aims it at a specific idol: the notion that godliness is a means of financial gain. He counters with the letter's most quoted line: 'godliness with contentment is great gain,' and 'the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' He charges Timothy, the man of God, to flee this and fight the good fight of faith, charges the rich to be generous, and ends with the letter's whole burden in one imperative: guard the deposit.
Chapter 6 folds the letter's threads together — false teaching (1:3–7), godliness (ch. 4), money (ch. 5) — into a final charge, closing the frame opened in ch. 1 with the same word, 'deposit' (parathēkē), that described the gospel entrusted to Paul (1:11).
6:1–2 — Bondservants and masters
Slaves under the yoke should regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so God's name and the teaching are not blasphemed. Those with believing masters must not take advantage of the brotherhood but serve all the more, since believers benefit from their service. Teach and urge these things.
1 Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. 2 Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
6:3–10 — False teachers and the love of money
Anyone who teaches otherwise and rejects sound words is conceited, obsessed with controversies that breed envy and strife, imagining godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is the real gain: we brought nothing in and take nothing out, so food and clothing suffice. Those craving riches fall into ruin, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and some have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with grief.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
6:11–16 — The charge to the man of God
By contrast, Timothy — 'man of God' — must flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. He is to fight the good fight and take hold of eternal life, keeping the command unstained until Christ's appearing. This charge, given before God who gives life and before Christ who confessed before Pilate, culminates in a soaring doxology to the blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings, who alone has immortality.
11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
6:17–19 — A charge to the rich
Those already rich in this age must not be arrogant or set their hope on uncertain wealth, but on God, who richly provides everything to enjoy. They are to do good, be rich in good works, generous and ready to share — storing up a good foundation for the future and taking hold of true life.
17 Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
6:20–21 — Guard the deposit
The letter's whole burden in a final imperative: Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you, turning from empty chatter and the contradictions of 'knowledge' falsely so-called, which some have professed and so wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.
20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).