1 timothy 6

Read 1 Timothy 6 at Bible Gateway.

1 Tim 6:3-21a chiastic structure:

1a) 1 Tim 6:3-5a, Those who know nothing/ obsessed with disputes over words, destitute of the truth;

1b) 1 Tim 6:5b-14, Flee the desire to be rich;

1b.1) 1 Tim 6:5b-10, Warning to flee the desire to be rich;

1a) 1 Tim 6:5b, Those who use godliness as a means of gain;
1b) 1 Tim 6:5c, From such withdraw yourself (stray from them);
1c) 1 Tim 6:6-8, Now godliness with contentment is great gain;

1a) 1 Tim 6:6, Now godliness with contentment is great gain;
central axis) 1 Tim 6:7, We brought nothing into this world + we can carry nothing out;
2a) 1 Tim 6:8, With food and clothing we shall be content;

central axis) 1 Tim 6:9 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition;”
2c) 1 Tim 6:10a, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil;
2b) 1 Tim 6:10b, Those who have strayed from the faith;
2a) 1 Tim 6:10c, Because of their greediness + pierced themselves through;

1b.2) 1 Tim 6:11, Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness;
1b.3) 1 Tim 6:12, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life;
1b.4) 1 Tim 6:13-14, I urge you in the sight of God that you keep this commandment without spot;

central axis) 1 Tim 6:15-16, Jesus Christ, King of kings + Lord of lords, to whom be honor, Amen;

2b) 1 Tim 6:17-20a, To those who are rich in this present age;

2b.1) 1 Tim 6:17, Commandment to those who are rich in this present age;
2b.2) 1 Tim 6:18-19a, Let them be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share;
2b.3) 1 Tim 6:19b, That they may lay hold on eternal life;
2b.4) 1 Tim 6:20a, O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust;

2a) 1 Tim 6:20b-21a, Avoid profane + idle babblings of what is falsely called knowledge.

There is a lot to glean from this chapter, but what struck me today is Paul’s contrast of two kinds of gain. There are those who try to use godliness as a means to an end, as a means of material gain. He is talking about those who desire to be rich in material goods, and use a pretext of godliness in order to arrive at that goal. Apparently the exhortation of some to sow seed into (their) ministry in order for God to bless you in material goods has always plagued the church. The love of their heart set on material gain is a snare for them.

Then there is true gain, or great gain, which is godliness with contentment. This type of gain does not result in an increase of material goods, but an increase in peace and contentment, a heart free from lusts and the love of money. In this type of gain, true godliness is an end in itself, not a means to anything else.

How can a godly person be content with only food and clothing? The one whose trust is in God, who has confidence that the God who provided today’s food and clothing will also provide for the needs of tomorrow, can be content in whatever situation they find themselves. Because they believe in the goodness and faithfulness of God, theirs is the assurance that God in His sovereignty and all powerful ability has provided all that is needful, and so their hearts are at rest in their gratitude.