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1 Timothy 6
The letter closes by following the money. Paul tells slaves how to regard masters, then turns on teachers who treat religion as a business — and counters them with a line about contentment, since we brought nothing in and carry nothing out (v.7). Watch the pivot at verse 11: Paul stops arguing and speaks straight to Timothy as "man of God," charging him to flee, fight, and guard. The chapter ends as bluntly as it began, warning against "falsely called knowledge."
- 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.
- 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,
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he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,
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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.
- 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.
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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.
- 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;
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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.
- 20
Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,
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which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
- 1
TODOS los que están debajo del yugo de servidumbre, tengan á sus señores por dignos de toda honra, porque no sea blasfemado el nombre del Señor y la doctrina.
- 2
Y los que tienen amos fieles, no los tengan en menos, por ser hermanos; antes sírvanles mejor, por cuanto son fieles y amados, y partícipes del beneficio. Esto enseña y exhorta.
- 3
Si alguno enseña otra cosa, y no asiente á sanas palabras de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y á la doctrina que es conforme á la piedad;
- 4
Es hinchado, nada sabe, y enloquece acerca de cuestiones y contiendas de palabras, de las cuales nacen envidias, pleitos, maledicencias, malas sospechas,
- 5
Porfías de hombres corruptos de entendimiento y privados de la verdad, que tienen la piedad por granjería: apártate de los tales.
- 6
Empero grande granjería es la piedad con contentamiento.
- 7
Porque nada hemos traído á este mundo, y sin duda nada podremos sacar.
- 8
Así que, teniendo sustento y con qué cubrirnos, seamos contentos con esto.
- 9
Porque los que quieren enriquecerse, caen en tentación y lazo, y en muchas codicias locas y dañosas, que hunden á los hombres en perdición y muerte.
- 10
Porque el amor del dinero es la raíz de todos los males: el cual codiciando algunos, se descaminaron de la fe, y fueron traspasados de muchos dolores.
- 11
Mas tú, oh hombre de Dios, huye de estas cosas, y sigue la justicia, la piedad, la fe, la caridad, la paciencia, la mansedumbre.
- 12
Pelea la buena batalla de la fe, echa mano de la vida eterna, á la cual asimismo eres llamado, habiendo hecho buena profesión delante de muchos testigos.
- 13
Te mando delante de Dios, que da vida á todas las cosas, y de Jesucristo, que testificó la buena profesión delante de Poncio Pilato,
- 14
Que guardes el mandamiento sin mácula ni reprensión, hasta la aparición de nuestro Señor Jesucristo:
- 15
La cual á su tiempo mostrará el Bienaventurado y solo Poderoso, Rey de reyes, y Señor de señores;
- 16
Quien sólo tiene inmortalidad, que habita en luz inaccesible; á quien ninguno de los hombres ha visto ni puede ver: al cual sea la honra y el imperio sempiterno. Amén.
- 17
A los ricos de este siglo manda que no sean altivos, ni pongan la esperanza en la incertidumbre de las riquezas, sino en el Dios vivo, que nos da todas las cosas en abundancia de que gocemos:
- 18
Que hagan bien, que sean ricos en buenas obras, dadivosos, que con facilidad comuniquen;
- 19
Atesorando para sí buen fundamento para lo por venir, que echen mano á la vida eterna.
- 20
Oh Timoteo, guarda lo que se te ha encomendado, evitando las profanas pláticas de vanas cosas, y los argumentos de la falsamente llamada ciencia:
- 21
La cual profesando algunos, fueron descaminados acerca de la fe. La gracia sea contigo. Amén. La primera epístola á Timoteo fué escrita de Laodicea, que es metrópoli de la Frigia Pacatiana.
Two charges to the rich, two ends
Money frames the whole chapter. First the wrong relation to it: those "determined to be rich" fall into a snare, and "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (v.10) — note the wording, money itself is not the root, the craving is.
Then verses 17-19 give the right relation: the already-rich are not told to divest but to set hope on God rather than uncertain wealth, and to be "rich in good works." The contrast with the profit-seeking teachers of verse 5 is deliberate.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- ConfessionWhat confession means in the Bible, how it differs from vague apology, and where to read it with repentance and mercy in view.
- FaithWhat faith means in the Bible, how it differs from vague belief, and how to read it without turning it into self-confidence.
- GraceWhat grace means in the Bible, how it differs from vague kindness, and which passages help define it clearly.
- HopeWhat biblical hope means, how it differs from optimism, and which passages show its shape most clearly.
- Psalms 51:1Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Psalms 32:3Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Proverbs 28:13Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Nehemiah 1:6Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Luke 15:18Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- 1 John 1:9Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Psalms 32:5Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
- Leviticus 16:21Related through the topic "Confession in the Bible".
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