Skip to main content
« Advice About Widows and Elders 2 Timothy »
0:00 / 0:00

1 Timothy 6 KJV

Godliness with Contentment

Epistles/Letters 3 min 21 verses 461 words Paul godliness ร—4 faith ร—4 words ร—3 jesus ร—3 christ ร—3

1 Timothy Chapter 6: Godliness with Contentment

The chapter's use of 'paratheke' (deposit) in verse 20 frames Timothy's guardianship of doctrine as a sacred trust akin to a banker's fiduciary duty, a term Paul repeats in 2 Timothy to underscore apostolic succession amid Ephesian heresies.

L1๐Ÿ”—et as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

2๐Ÿ”— And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

3๐Ÿ”— If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4๐Ÿ”— He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5๐Ÿ”— Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6๐Ÿ”— But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7๐Ÿ”— For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8๐Ÿ”— And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9๐Ÿ”— But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10๐Ÿ”— For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11๐Ÿ”— But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12๐Ÿ”— Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13๐Ÿ”— I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14๐Ÿ”— That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15๐Ÿ”— Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16๐Ÿ”— Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

17๐Ÿ”— Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18๐Ÿ”— That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19๐Ÿ”— Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

20๐Ÿ”— O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

21๐Ÿ”— Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Next Book 2 Timothy

โ† โ†’ arrow keys to navigate chapters ยท spacebar to play/pause audio

Chapter Context

Reading Plans Bible in a Year

Did You Know?

1

The chapter's use of 'paratheke' (deposit) in verse 20 frames Timothy's guardianship of doctrine as a sacred trust akin to a banker's fiduciary duty, a term Paul repeats in 2 Timothy to underscore apostolic succession amid Ephesian heresies.

2

Paul's allusion to Christ's 'good confession' before Pilate in verse 13 draws on the Roman legal concept of a formal testimony under oath, positioning Christian witness as a counter-claim to imperial authority rather than mere personal belief.

3

The warning against 'oppositions of science falsely so called' in verse 20 targets early Gnostic dualism by co-opting their term 'gnosis' while rejecting it as antithetical to the 'sound words' of the faith, prefiguring second-century anti-heretical rhetoric.

4

Verses 17-19 invert Greco-Roman euergetism by urging the wealthy not to seek honor through public benefaction but to pursue 'treasures' stored in the eschatological future, subverting patronage systems prevalent in Ephesus.

5

The doxology in verses 15-16 applies 'King of kings, and Lord of lords' to God the Father using liturgical phrasing drawn from Hellenistic ruler cults and Daniel 2:47, creating a theocentric counter to imperial acclamations before its later Christological adaptation in Revelation.