1 Timothy Chapter 6 — A Bible Study & Commentary
When I read 1 Timothy 6, I honestly feel a strange mixture of warmth, heaviness, and kinda like… a quiet warning echoing in the room. Maybe it’s the way Paul ends his letter—like a father giving last-minute instructions before the child steps into a big world that can chew a person alive if they’re not anchored deep in the Lord. The chapter smell almost like old parchment and sweat of a traveling apostle (I imagine), and the words taste sharp, salty, almost like something aged in truth. And yeah… I know that sounds odd, but Scripture hits the senses like that sometimes, at least for me.
Anyway, let’s dive verse by verse. Not rushed. Not perfect. Just honest.
Verse 1 — “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor…”
Paul begins with instructions to δοῦλοι (douloi) — Greek for bondservants, slaves, workers under authority. In Hebrew the idea connects to עֶבֶד (eved) which means servant, worker, subordinate under duty. Paul isn’t endorsing injustice; he’s navigating a world where slavery was a social reality. He’s saying: “Live in such a way that God’s reputation is guarded.”
Sometimes that verse makes me uncomfortable. Maybe that’s good. Scripture should poke us. It reminds me that our behavior—especially when we feel mistreated—reflects on God. Hard pill to chew.
Verse 2 — “And they that have believing masters…”
Paul goes deeper: If your master is Christian? Don’t disrespect him just because you share the same Lord. The Greek word ἀδελφοί (adelphoi) meaning brothers, reminds us that spiritual equality doesn’t erase earthly roles instantly. The church was learning how to walk this out.
It feels like Paul is saying: Don’t let familiarity breed contempt. Sometimes in church today, we do the same—we expect special treatment because “we’re all saved,” and we stop demonstrating honor.
The smell of humility here is almost like dusty sandal straps—quiet, unnoticed, but necessary.
Verse 3–4 — “If any man teach otherwise… he is proud, knowing nothing.”
Here comes Paul’s punch.
The Greek word for proud is τετύφωται (tetyphōtai) meaning puffed up, smoky-headed, wrapped in conceit. I love that image. Someone whose head is full of fog, like steam clouding their spiritual eyesight.
False teachers, Paul says, are obsessed with λογομαχία (logomachia) — “word-battles.” That’s such a human thing… arguing for the sake of ego. Smells like old burned charcoal, like something went wrong on the fire of the heart.
In Hebrew thought, the fool is often called כְּסִיל (kesil) — stubborn, thick-minded. Paul basically calls these people exactly that.
He warns Timothy: don’t be like them.
Verse 5 — “Perverse disputings… supposing that gain is godliness.”
This verse hits like a slap. Some people in Paul’s day (and our day, honestly) thought financial prosperity = divine approval.
The Greek word πορισμός (porismos) means gain, profit. Paul says some believed that piety was a way to make money.
And my heart sinks because… we see this today.
The Hebrew echoes the idea of בֶּצַע (betza‘) meaning unjust gain. It carries a bitter taste. Like metal on the tongue.
Paul says this mindset corrupts the soul.
Verse 6 — “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
This verse always feels warm to me. Like a cup of tea on a wooden table. Something simple but rich.
The Greek εὐσέβεια (eusebeia) = godliness, reverence, and αὐτάρκεια (autarkeia) = contentment, sufficiency, inner peace independent of circumstances. Together they make a beautiful recipe.
The Hebrew idea is close to שָׁלוֹם (shalom) — peace, wholeness.
Paul is teaching Timothy that real wealth isn’t found in bank accounts but in the soul’s anchored peace.
Verse 7 — “For we brought nothing into this world…”
This verse always reminds me of the cold delivery room when a baby is born—naked, empty-handed, crying. And when we die, same thing: we leave with nothing but the legacy of our faith.
The Greek ἐξενεγκεῖν (exenenkein) means to carry out, remove. We take nothing with us.
It’s a grounding verse. A quiet reminder that all possessions are temporary guests in our life.
Verse 8 — “Having food and raiment let us be content.”
Food = τροφάς (trophas)
Raiment (clothing) = σκεπάσματα (skepasmata) which can also mean covering, shelter.
Enough is enough. But our world screams “more, more, more!” So this verse hits differently.
In Hebrew, contentment is tied to דַּי (dai) — “enough, sufficient.”
Sometimes I read this and feel a strange peace wash over me, like a soft breeze through an open window. Life doesn’t have to be complicated.
Verse 9 — “They that will be rich fall into temptation…”
Here the Greek gets intense.
βουλόμενοι πλουτεῖν (boulomenoi ploutein) — “those who desire to be rich.”
Not the rich. The ones who crave it.
Then:
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πειρασμόν (peirasmon) — temptation
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παγίδα (pagida) — a trap, like an animal snare
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ἄφρονα καὶ βλαβερά (aphrona kai blabera) — foolish and harmful desires
Paul paints greed like a hunting trap waiting under leaves.
And yeah… greed is sneaky. It’s like a sweet smell at first, like roasted almonds maybe, but underneath is rot.
Verse 10 — “For the love of money is the root of all evil…”
One of the most misunderstood verses ever. Paul doesn’t say money is evil. He says φιλαργυρία (philargyria) — love of money, obsession with wealth — is the root of many evils.
The Hebrew for love of money ties to בֶּצַע לֵב (betza lev) — “greedy heart.”
Money isn't the demon; the heart twisted around money is.
People “pierced themselves through with many sorrows,” Paul says. The Greek περιέπειραν (periepeiran) sounds almost like jabbed repeatedly.
Greed eats the soul from inside out.
Verse 11 — “But thou, O man of God, flee these things…”
This is the part where Paul feels like a father grabbing Timothy by the shoulders.
The phrase ἄνθρωπε θεοῦ (anthrōpe theou) — “man of God” — echoes Old Testament prophets. Heavy title.
Paul gives Timothy verbs that sound like footsteps:
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φεῦγε (pheuge) — flee
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δίωκε (diōke) — pursue
Flee greed. Chase righteousness.
This is spiritual movement. It makes you feel wind on your face, like you’re running downhill and uphill at the same time.
Verse 12 — “Fight the good fight of faith…”
The Greek here is beautiful:
ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα (agonizou ton kalon agōna)
— “agonize the good agony.”
Faith isn’t soft. Faith wrestles. It sweats. It tastes like iron sometimes. It sounds like a heart pounding against ribs.
Paul says Timothy already confessed Christ before many witnesses. Hold on to that confession as tight as a rope in a storm.
Verse 13–14 — “Keep this command without spot…”
Paul charges Timothy in the presence of:
The Greek for “spotless” is ἄσπιλον (aspilon).
It reminds me of a white garment held away from muddy roads.
Hebrew would use תָּמִים (tamim) — “whole, blameless.”
Paul wants Timothy to live upright until Jesus returns. It feels like a tall order, but also a hopeful one.
Verse 15–16 — The Majesty of God
These verses just explode into praise.
God is:
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ὁ μακάριος (ho makarios) — the blessed, happy
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ὁ μόνος δυνάστης (ho monos dynastēs) — the only Sovereign
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Βασιλεὺς βασιλέων (Basileus basileōn) — King of kings
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Κύριος κυρίων (Kyrios kyriōn) — Lord of lords
He alone has immortality (ἀθανασία – athanasia) and dwells in unapproachable light.
The Hebrew idea touches אוֹר גָּנוּז (or ganuz) — hidden, divine light beyond human reach.
Honestly, when I read this section, I get chills. It’s like standing near a waterfall’s roar. Something bigger than me. Holy. Bright. Alive.
Verse 17 — “Charge them that are rich…”
Paul isn’t anti-wealth. He’s anti-arrogance.
The rich should:
The Greek ὑψηλοφρονεῖν (hypsēlophonein) means “to think too highly of oneself”—like standing on tiptoes trying to look taller than everyone.
In Hebrew thought, pride is גָּאוֹן (gaon) — dangerous elevation.
Paul wants wealthy believers to stay grounded. Humble. Soft-hearted.
Verse 18 — “Be rich in good works.”
I love this. Rich in kindness. Rich in generosity. Rich in compassion.
The Greek πλουτεῖν ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς (ploutein en ergois kalois) is beautiful—wealth measured by goodness.
It’s a wealth no thief can steal.
Verse 19 — “Laying up treasure… for the time to come.”
The Greek for “lay up” is ἀποθησαυρίζω (apothēsaurizō) — from thesauros, treasure. It means storing treasure in heaven.
Jesus said the same thing. Paul echoes it.
Spiritual savings never crash like earthly markets.
Verse 20 — “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust…”
This is almost a whisper from Paul’s weary heart.
The Greek παραθήκη (parathēkē) means sacred deposit, like a treasure entrusted for safekeeping.
He warns against:
It feels very modern. Paul could be writing this to us. The world is loud with empty talk, fake wisdom, spiritual noise.
Timothy must guard the truth like a lamp in harsh winds.
Verse 21 — “Grace be with thee.”
Paul ends softly: χάρις (charis) — grace.
Not pressure. Not guilt. Grace.
Like a gentle hand on the shoulder.
Closing Thoughts
1 Timothy 6 is a chapter soaked in contrast:
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humility vs pride
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contentment vs greed
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godliness vs corruption
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eternal vs temporary
It’s strangely comforting, even with its warnings. Maybe because Paul writes with that earthly dust still on him—the dust of hard roads, prison cells, worn sandals, rough nights, prayerful tears. His words have texture. Imperfections. Human warmth.
And Timothy, young and maybe a bit nervous, needed that. So do we.
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