1 Timothy 6

The chapter begins by instructing servants to honor their masters, whether believing or not, to prevent blasphemy against God's doctrine. It warns against false teachers who equate godliness with material gain, advocating instead for godliness with contentment as true wealth. The text strongly cautions against the love of money, identifying it as the root of all evil, leading to destruction. Timothy is exhorted to flee these worldly desires, pursue righteousness, and faithfully guard the truth entrusted to him.

Paul instructs servants to show due honour to their masters, even those who are believers, lest the name of God be slandered. He then condemns false teachers who deviate from sound doctrine, being proud and contentious, and who wrongly assume that godliness is a means to financial profit. In contrast, the chapter declares that godliness combined with contentment is great gain, reminding believers that they brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out. A strong warning is issued against the desire for riches, which leads to temptation, snares, and destructive lusts, identifying the love of money as the root of all evil. Timothy, as a man of God, is charged to flee these vices and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, fighting the good fight of faith. He is solemnly commanded to keep his charge pure until the appearing of Christ, who is described as the blessed and only Potentate. Finally, the rich are admonished not to be highminded or trust in uncertain riches, but in God, using their wealth for good works and generosity to lay up a good foundation for eternal life, while Timothy is urged to avoid profane babblings and falsely called science.

The sixth chapter of First Timothy opens with instructions for servants, urging those under the yoke to accord their masters all due honour, so that the name of God and His doctrine are not blasphemed. For those with believing masters, the instruction is not to despise them because they are brethren, but rather to serve them more diligently, recognizing them as faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit. Paul then issues a stern warning against any who teach contrary to the wholesome words of Christ and the doctrine of godliness, characterizing such individuals as proud, ignorant, and given to contentious questions and disputes that breed envy, strife, and evil suspicions. These men are described as having corrupt minds, being destitute of the truth, and falsely supposing that godliness is a means to financial gain, from whom Timothy is commanded to withdraw. In stark contrast, the epistle proclaims that godliness with contentment is great gain, reminding believers of their transient existence, having brought nothing into the world and being able to carry nothing out. Therefore, having food and raiment, they should be content. A severe warning follows regarding the desire for wealth, stating that those who wish to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts that ultimately drown men in destruction and perdition. The pivotal statement is made that the love of money is the root of all evil, which, when coveted, has caused some to err from the faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows. Timothy, as a man of God, is personally exhorted to flee these worldly pursuits and instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, fighting the good fight of faith and laying hold on eternal life. He is given a solemn charge in the sight of God and Christ Jesus to keep this commandment without spot and unrebukeable until the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is identified as the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, possessing immortality and dwelling in unapproachable light. The chapter then provides specific instructions for the rich in this world, charging them not to be highminded, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who provides all things richly for enjoyment. They are to do good, be rich in good works, ready to distribute, and willing to communicate, thereby laying up a good foundation for themselves against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Finally, Timothy is admonished to guard the trust committed to him, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and the oppositions of science falsely so called, which some professing have caused them to err concerning the faith. The chapter concludes with a benediction of grace.