BOOK 54 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy book home•Chapter 6 of 6•21 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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1 Timothy 6 Overview

Paul instructs servants to honor masters so the gospel is not blasphemed, warns against teachers obsessed with controversy and financial gain, and declares that godliness with contentment is great gain. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Timothy must flee these things, fight the good fight of faith, charge the rich not to trust riches, and guard the deposit committed to him.

1 TimothyBook

6Chapter

21Verses

Pauline EpistlesDivision

Before you read 1 Timothy 6

Coming from

Paul gives Timothy practical instructions for treating older and younger men and women as family, organizing support for widows, honoring elders who labor well, handling accusations against leaders carefully, correcting sin impartially, and avoiding premature ordination. The chapter combines compassion with administrative discernment.

In this chapter

Leads into

The canonical sequence continues into 2 Timothy.

Key understandingExplore deeper

‘The love of money is the root of all evil’ identifies covetous love, not money itself, as the danger.

Paul’s instructions to rich believers assume wealth itself does not automatically disqualify them; their responsibility is humility, trust in God, generosity, and good works.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Contentment is true gain

Life cannot be measured by accumulation.

Covetousness can pierce believers with many sorrows

Desire for riches can draw people away from faithful priorities.

The man of God must flee and pursue

Christian maturity includes both rejecting sin and actively pursuing righteousness.

Wealth should be held loosely

Rich believers are commanded to be generous and trust the living God.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Matthew 6:19–24

Jesus warns against serving mammon.

Philippians 4:11–13

Paul’s learned contentment provides a personal example.

Hebrews 13:5

Believers are told to live without covetousness and be content.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not quote ‘money is the root of all evil’ inaccurately

The KJV says the love of money is the root of all evil.

Do not teach that poverty automatically equals godliness

The issue is contentment and trust.

Do not turn ‘lay hold on eternal life’ into earning eternal life

Timothy already possesses life in Christ; the phrase calls him to embrace the life to which he was called.

Read 1 Timothy 6 watching for…

Marks of corrupt teachers.

Godliness with contentment.

The love-of-money warning.

What Timothy must flee and pursue.

The charge to wealthy believers.

The final command to guard the deposit.

Chapter outline6 sections

1-2Servants are told to honor their masters so God’s name and doctrine are not blasphemed 3-5False teachers are proud, corrupt, and obsessed with disputes while treating gain as godliness 6-10Godliness with contentment is great gain, and the love of money leads many into sorrow 11-16Timothy is told to flee these things, pursue godliness, fight the good fight, and keep the commandment 17-19The rich are charged not to trust riches but to be generous and rich in good works 20-21Timothy is told to guard what was committed to him and avoid profane and false knowledge

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.

And 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.

If 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;

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But 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.

For 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.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Who 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.

Charge 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;

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. <<The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.>>