Passage Explorer

1 Timothy 6

Setting the scene
Who wrote it
Paul (debated)
Who it was for
Timothy, in Ephesus
What was happening
Slaves and masters, the danger of loving money, a charge to Timothy, and a last word to the rich
Read the full background in the book overview

What’s happening

"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." Those with believing masters are not to "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." Anyone who "teaches a different doctrine, and doesn't consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ," is "conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 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." "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 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. 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." Timothy, "man of God," is to flee these things and "follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." He is charged before God and before Christ Jesus, who "before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession," to keep the commandment without spot "until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ," whom God will show in his own time, "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see." Those who are rich in this present world are charged not to be arrogant or to trust in riches but in "the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy," to do good and be rich in good works. Finally: "Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen."

Why the setting matters

The opening lines of this chapter sit in an uncomfortable place for modern readers. Slavery was a basic part of the Roman economy, and in a city such as Ephesus perhaps a third of the people were slaves. The New Testament letters do not call for ending the system as a whole; they speak to people inside it, call slaves and masters "brothers" (6:2; Philemon 1:16), condemn kidnapping and selling people (1:10), and tell masters elsewhere to treat slaves justly (Colossians 4:1). The reason given here is the church's reputation: "that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed." Readers should hold two things together: what these verses say to those in that situation, and the fact that they have been used wrongly to defend slavery. The warning about money is the heart of the second half. "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (6:10) is not that money is evil, and not that it is "the" only root; the Greek lacks the definite article. The false teachers are accused of using godliness as a way to make money (6:5), which is a theme in Paul's other letters about those who "peddle" the word (2 Corinthians 2:17; Titus 1:11). The address "man of God" (6:11) is a title for a prophet in the Old Testament (for example Deuteronomy 33:1 and 1 Samuel 9:6). The "good confession" before Pilate (6:13) points to Jesus' testimony in John 18:36-37. "What is falsely called knowledge" (gnosis, 6:20) is often linked to the later movement called Gnosticism, but that movement is mostly known from the second century, so the connection is debated; Paul may mean any teaching that claimed superior insight. The last "Grace be with you" uses the plural "you" in Greek, which suggests that the letter was meant to be read to the whole church.

Read 1 Timothy 6 (World English Bible)

Who’s in this chapter

Paul

Gives a final charge in the sight of God and Christ Jesus.

Timothy

Addressed as "man of God," told to fight the good fight and guard what is entrusted to him.

Slaves and masters

Addressed in 6:1-2.

The false teachers

Conceited, quarrelsome, and treating godliness as a means of gain.

The rich in this age

Charged not to be arrogant or trust in riches but to be rich in good works.

Pontius Pilate

Before whom Christ Jesus made the good confession.

Christ Jesus

Who will appear in his own time, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Talk it through

  1. Paul says "godliness with contentment is great gain." What would it mean to be content without becoming complacent?
  2. The text warns about those who "are determined to be rich." Where does the desire to have enough shade into the love of money?
  3. The instructions on slaves and masters have been used to excuse injustice. How do you read them alongside the condemnation of slave-traders in 1:10 and the word "brothers" in 6:2?
  4. The letter ends with "guard what is committed to you." What do you think is the deposit, and who guards it?

Read 1 Timothy 6

World English Bible

1Let 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. 2Those 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.

3If 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, 4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9But 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. 10For 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.

11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12Fight 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. 13I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 16He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17Charge those who are rich in this present world 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; 18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen.

Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources