1 Timothy 6: Fight the Good Fight
Against teachers who profit from religion, Paul commends contentment, warns of the love of money, and calls the man of God to pursue righteousness.
1 Timothy 6 (WEB)
1 Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.
2 Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,
4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,
5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.
8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,
14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;
21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
1 Timothy 6 (KJV)
1 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.
2 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.
3 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;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 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.
10 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.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 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.
13 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;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 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.
17 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;
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
21 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.
1 Timothy 6 (ASV)
1 Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain:
7 for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;
8 but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.
9 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
13 I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;
14 that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
17 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;
21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you.
Summary
Paul gives final instructions, beginning with bondservants, who are to honor their masters so God's name and teaching are not slandered, and to serve believing masters all the better as beloved brothers. He returns to false teachers who reject the sound words of Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness; conceited and ignorant, they crave controversy and produce envy, strife, and constant friction among people who imagine that godliness is a means of financial gain. Against this Paul declares that godliness with contentment is itself great gain, for we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out; having food and clothing, we should be content. Those determined to be rich fall into temptation, a snare, and many harmful desires that plunge people into ruin, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and some craving it have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. Paul then charges Timothy directly: as a man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness; fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life. He solemnly commands Timothy, before God and Christ Jesus who made the good confession before Pilate, to keep the command without blemish until Christ appears—the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light. Finally, Paul instructs the rich not to be arrogant or to hope in uncertain riches but in God, to be generous and ready to share, storing up a good foundation for the future. He closes by urging Timothy to guard the trust committed to him, turning away from godless chatter and the contradictions of so-called knowledge, with a final blessing of grace.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle giving his closing charge—warning against greed, commending contentment, and urging Timothy to fight the good fight of faith.
- Timothy — The man of God called to flee the love of money, pursue righteousness, keep the commandment blameless, and guard the trust committed to him until Christ appears.
- Christ Jesus — The Lord who made the good confession before Pontius Pilate, the blessed and only Ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords, whose appearing is awaited.
- The greedy false teachers — Conceited, quarrelsome men of corrupt minds who suppose that godliness is a means of gain and have wandered from the faith in their craving for money.
Key Verse
1 Timothy 6:10 (WEB)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Lessons Learned
- Godliness with contentment, not wealth, is true and lasting gain (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
- The love of money breeds many evils and can lead people away from the faith (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
- The man of God flees greed and pursues righteousness, faith, love, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).
- Riches are to be held loosely and used generously, with hope set on God (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
- Contentment is great gain. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6, WEB). A heart satisfied in God is richer than any bank account.
- Love of money corrupts. “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, WEB). It is not money but the craving for it that pierces people with many sorrows.
- Pursue God, flee greed. “Flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11, WEB). The Christian life is both a fleeing and a pursuing.
- The rich are to be rich in good. Charge the wealthy “that they be rich in good works… ready to distribute” (1 Timothy 6:18, WEB), setting their hope on God rather than uncertain riches.
- How does Paul expose the false teachers' real motive in verses 3-5, and what fruit does their teaching bear?
- What is the difference between money itself and “the love of money,” and why does Paul call that love a root of all kinds of evil (6:9-10)?
- Paul tells the man of God both to flee and to pursue (6:11-12). What is he to run from, and what is he to chase after?
- What does Paul tell the rich to do with their wealth, and where are they to place their hope (6:17-19)?
- Where do you sense the pull of discontent or the love of money in your own heart, and how does “godliness with contentment is great gain” reframe it?
- Paul shows that the false teachers crave controversy and treat godliness as a means of gain (6:3-5). Their teaching produces envy, strife, slander, and constant friction rather than love and truth. He exposes that beneath the doctrinal pose lies a heart bent on profit.
- Money is a neutral tool; the love of money is a disordered craving that displaces trust in God. Paul says this love, not money itself, is a root of all kinds of evil, leading some to wander from the faith and pierce themselves with sorrows (6:10). The issue is the heart's affection.
- The man of God is to flee greed and the snares of wealth, and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (6:11). He is also to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life (6:12). Christian growth involves both decisive flight and active pursuit.
- Paul tells the rich not to be arrogant or to hope in uncertain riches but in God, who richly provides everything to enjoy (6:17). They are to do good, be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, storing up a good foundation for the future (6:18-19). Wealth becomes a tool for generosity and hope rests in God.
- This is a personal-application question with no single answer. Invite honest reflection on where discontent or financial craving has a grip. As leader, hold up contentment in Christ as the true gain (6:6), and close gently, letting the group rest in God's generous provision rather than feeling shamed.