1 Timothy 6:3-10
English Standard Version
3 If anyone (A)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with (B)the sound[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching (C)that accords with godliness, 4 (D)he is puffed up with conceit and (E)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for (F)controversy and for (G)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people (H)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, (I)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But (J)godliness (K)with contentment is great gain, 7 for (L)we brought nothing into the world, and[b] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But (M)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But (N)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, (O)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that (P)plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of (Q)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Timothy 6:3 Or healthy
- 1 Timothy 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that]
1 Timothy 6:3-10
The Message
6 1-2 Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don’t blame God and our teaching for his behavior. Slaves with Christian masters all the more so—their masters are really their beloved brothers!
The Lust for Money
2-5 These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there’s an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
6-8 A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.
9-10 But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson