The big picture
Unequal power and wealth shape the duties in this closing chapter. Paul, the messenger giving these instructions, addresses Timothy, his trusted younger worker. First he speaks about enslaved believers and their masters. Then he attacks teachers who treat religion as a way to make money. Timothy must follow a different course and instruct rich believers to share. Jesus Christ, the Lord whose words guide the church, remains the measure of sound teaching. The final charge is to guard what has been entrusted to him.
In this chapter
- Instructions to People Under Slavery 1 Timothy 6:1-2
Paul tells enslaved people to treat their masters with honour.
- Greed Turns Religion Into a Trap 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Teachers who reject Jesus' sound words become proud and feed quarrels.
- A Charge Before the Highest Ruler 1 Timothy 6:11-16
Timothy must turn from greed toward right conduct, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
- Rich People Must Learn to Share 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Wealthy believers receive a charge about how they use what they own.
- Guard What Has Been Entrusted 1 Timothy 6:20-21
The letter ends by naming Timothy directly and urging him to guard his trust.
Central truth
Paul rejects religion used for profit and calls Timothy toward faithful service while directing rich believers to trust God and share.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Timothy · King James Version · 211 Timothy 6:1-2
Instructions to People Under Slavery
Paul tells enslaved people to treat their masters with honour. He gives a reason: God's name and teaching must not be insulted because of their conduct. Belonging to the same faith does not cancel a master's power here. Enslaved believers must not despise Christian masters as equals in faith. Instead, Paul tells them to serve those masters well as fellow believers who benefit from their work. These are instructions within slavery, where people lack freedom. The letter does not order masters to release them in this paragraph.
In everyday life
A market stallholder speaks courteously to the landlord who controls her lease. She weighs each word because their shared membership in a local club does not remove his power over her livelihood. Respect and unequal power exist together in the exchange. Paul addresses enslaved people, who cannot leave as a tenant can.
Notice
1 Timothy 6:2 Shared faith does not bring freedom from the master's control in this instruction. Paul calls both believers siblings while still directing the enslaved person to serve.
1 Timothy 6:1-2
King James Version1Let 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.
2And 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.
1 Timothy 6:3-10
Greed Turns Religion Into a Trap
Teachers who reject Jesus' sound words become proud and feed quarrels. Suspicion, insults, and envy follow their disputes. Paul says they treat devotion to God as a source of profit. True gain is devotion joined with contentment. People arrive in life empty-handed and leave without their goods. Food and clothes can be enough. The desire to get rich draws people into harmful cravings and ruin. Paul names love of money as a root of evil. Some have pursued it until they abandon faith and bring deep pain on themselves.
In everyday life
An auction bidder lifts his paddle again for a cabinet he no longer needs. The price passes the savings set aside for his roof. He feels unable to stop while another bidder remains in the room. Winning the object has taken control of him. Paul warns that greed can destroy faith as well as finances.
Notice
1 Timothy 6:10 Money itself is not named as the love at fault. Paul focuses on desire for it, then points to people whose pursuit has wounded their faith.
1 Timothy 6:3-10
King James Version3If 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;
4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9But 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.
10For 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.
1 Timothy 6:11-16
A Charge Before the Highest Ruler
Timothy must turn from greed toward right conduct, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Paul urges him to hold firmly to eternal life and the confession he made before witnesses. He recalls Jesus' own testimony before Pontius Pilate, the ruler who questioned him. God, who gives life, stands as witness to Timothy's charge. Timothy must keep it faithfully until Jesus appears. That event belongs to God's appointed time. Paul praises God as the supreme ruler, deathless and dwelling in light no human can approach or fully see.
In everyday life
The lifeboat recruit stands beside the launch slip and repeats his pledge before the crew. A veteran hands him the record of those who served before him. The promise binds him on quiet days as well as in storms. His service is measured against that public commitment. Timothy answers to God and awaits Jesus' appearing.
Notice
1 Timothy 6:13 Jesus' testimony before a ruler stands beside Timothy's public confession. Paul connects the younger man's charge with a witness given under far greater pressure.
1 Timothy 6:11-16
King James Version11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16Who 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.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Rich People Must Learn to Share
Wealthy believers receive a charge about how they use what they own. He tells Timothy to challenge their pride and misplaced trust. Wealth is uncertain, while God gives what people enjoy. Rich believers should become rich in good deeds. That means being ready to give and willing to share. Paul looks ahead to a lasting future, not a larger store of goods now. Generous conduct belongs with laying hold of eternal life. Having possessions is not the same as having a secure basis for hope.
In everyday life
An olive grove owner watches fresh oil pour from the estate press into storage tins. She sets part of the yield aside for neighbours whose harvest failed. A full store gives her a chance to help, but she knows one hard season can empty it. Paul ties generosity to eternal life, not next year's crop.
Notice
1 Timothy 6:17 God is described as giving things to enjoy. The warning targets pride and trust in unstable wealth, rather than treating every pleasure from possessions as wrong.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
King James Version17Charge 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;
18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
Guard What Has Been Entrusted
The letter ends by naming Timothy directly and urging him to guard his trust. He must turn away from empty, irreverent talk and claims of knowledge that oppose the faith. The word for knowledge here does not mean that careful study of nature is being rejected. Paul describes claims that present themselves as truth while leading people away from belief. Some have followed them and lost their way. Timothy's task is to keep the message safe through faithful teaching. A brief wish for grace closes the charge.
In everyday life
The archive custodian checks a sealed deed before placing it in the vault. A visitor urges her to replace it with a newer copy whose date does not match. She keeps the trusted document and records the attempted swap. Her duty is care, not chasing every confident claim. Timothy guards a message of faith, not a legal original.
Notice
1 Timothy 6:20 The claim to knowledge is described as falsely named. Paul is challenging the truth of particular claims, not praising ignorance or rejecting all forms of learning.
1 Timothy 6:20-21
King James Version20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Timothy 6:1 begins with “Let 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.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Timothy 6:11 forms a natural hinge: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
The final note
1 Timothy 6:21 leaves the reader with “Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words good, faith, godliness, Christ, Jesus, Lord help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- raiment
- Clothing, counted here among the basic things needed for life.
- quickeneth
- Gives life to living things, rather than making them move faster.
- Potentate
- A ruler with supreme power, here a title for God.
- communicate
- Share possessions or resources with others, not only exchange words.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
