# 1 Timothy 06 đź“–: Godliness with Contentment
[[đź“š Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-1 Timothy Overview]] | [[1 Timothy 05]] | [[2 Timothy 01]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Honoring Masters
**Principle**: Honor everyone because they belong to the Lord.
[[#Verse 01.]] Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.
### Summary of Timothy’s Duties
**Principle**: Teach the truth so people can discern truth for themselves.
Teach them and exhort them about these things.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness,Â
[[#Verse 04.]]Â he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,Â
[[#Verse 05.]] and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either.Â
[[#Verse 08.]]Â But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.Â
[[#Verse 09.]]Â Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
### Fight the Good Fight
**Principle**: Pursue God, not all the distractions of life.
[[#Verse 11.]] But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,Â
[[#Verse 14.]] to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus ChristÂ
[[#Verse 15.]] —whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time.Â
[[#Verse 16.]]Â He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.
### Instructions to the Rich
**Principle**: Give sacrificially with Joy.
[[#Verse 17.]] Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.
### Conclusion
**Principle**: Stand guard over your faith and the opportunities the Lord has given you.
[[#Verse 20.]] O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called “knowledge.”Â
[[#Verse 21.]] By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Paul addresses believing slaves whose masters were also believers (6:2).
2. Some false teachers treated godliness as a way to make money (6:5).
3. "We have brought nothing into this world" (6:7) echoes Job 1:21.
4. "Man of God" (6:11) is a title the Old Testament uses for Moses (Deuteronomy 33:1) and Elijah (1 Kings 17:24).
5. Pilate's name appears here (6:13) and was later included in the Apostles' Creed.
6. "King of kings and Lord of lords" (6:15) also appears in Revelation 17:14 and 19:16.
7. God "lives in unapproachable light" (6:16), echoing Exodus 33:20, where no one can see God and live.
8. "Contentment" (6:6) is *autarkeia*, related to the word Paul uses in Philippians 4:11.
9. "What has been entrusted" (6:20) is a banking term for a deposit placed in someone's care.
10. Paul warns against what is "falsely called knowledge" (6:20), using the Greek word *gnosis*.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who made the good confession before Pontius Pilate (6:13) and who will appear at the right time as King of kings and Lord of lords (6:15; Revelation 19:16).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Godliness combined with contentment brings great profit (6:6). Where do you struggle with contentment?
2. The love of money is the root of all evils (6:10). How does the love of money show up in subtle ways?
3. The rich are told to be rich in good deeds and generous (6:17-19). How can generosity help you take hold of what is truly life?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verses 6-8: Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out.
- đź“– verse 10: The love of money is the root of all evils.
- đź“– verses 11-12: Pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness, and fight the good fight of faith.
- đź“– verses 17-19: The rich should hope in God and be generous, storing up a good foundation for the future.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Philippians 04#Verse 11.|Philippians 4:11-12]] - Paul has learned contentment.
- đź”— [[Job 01#Verse 21.|Job 1:21]] - Naked I came, naked I will return.
- đź”— [[Matthew 06#Verse 19.|Matthew 6:19-21]] - Treasures in heaven.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 13#Verse 05.|Hebrews 13:5]] - Free from the love of money.
- đź”— [[John 18#Verse 37.|John 18:37]] - Jesus testifies to the truth before Pilate.
- đź”— [[Revelation 19#Verse 16.|Revelation 19:16]] - King of kings and Lord of lords.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Timothy 06 - SOAP|How to Achieve Great Wealth]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes