Bible Study 1 Timothy 6
‹ 1 Timothy

1 Timothy 6 · WEB

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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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.
2Those 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.
3If 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,
4he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,
5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out.
8But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
10For 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.
11But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
13I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,
14that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;
15which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
17Charge 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;
18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;
19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge;
21which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
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Summary

Paul instructs slaves to honor their masters so that God's name is not slandered, then turns to expose teachers who use godliness as a means of financial gain. He contrasts their greed with the freedom of true contentment, warning that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. He charges Timothy as a man of God to flee these things and to fight the good fight of faith, keeping the commandment blameless until Christ appears. The letter closes with instructions for the rich to be generous and a final charge to guard the deposit of truth entrusted to him.

Themes

  • Christian witness in difficult social positions
  • Contentment versus the love of money
  • The good fight of faith and perseverance
  • The blessed sovereignty of God
  • Generosity and using wealth for eternal good
  • Guarding the deposit of true doctrine

Key verses

  • 1 Tim 6:10 — “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed”
  • 1 Tim 6:12 — “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”
  • 1 Tim 6:15-16 — “the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light”
  • 1 Tim 6:6-7 — “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out”

Context & background

Slavery was woven into the fabric of the Roman Empire, including Ephesus (modern western Turkey), with as much as one-third of the population enslaved. Paul did not endorse the institution but addressed Christians within it, calling for a witness that protected God's reputation. Some false teachers in Ephesus appear to have been profiting financially from their teaching. The doxology in verses 15-16 echoes Jewish synagogue prayers, exalting God as the only true Sovereign in a city devoted to imperial worship and the goddess Artemis.

Cross-references

  • 2 Timothy 1:14 — Paul again urges Timothy to guard the good deposit entrusted to him
  • Hebrews 13:5 — Be free from the love of money and content with what you have
  • John 18:36-37 — Jesus' "good confession" before Pilate that Paul references
  • Matthew 6:19-21 — Jesus teaches storing up treasure in heaven, not on earth
  • Philippians 4:11-13 — Paul learned contentment in plenty and want

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    According to verse 10, what does Paul identify as "a root of all kinds of evil," and what has it caused some people to do?

  2. Observe

    Before whom did Christ Jesus make "the good confession" that Paul cites as a model for Timothy?

  3. Interpret

    Paul says "godliness with contentment is great gain" and immediately adds that "we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out." What does this pairing reveal about the true nature of wealth and contentment?

  4. Interpret

    Paul charges Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" and to "take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." What does the metaphor of fighting suggest about the nature of faithful Christian living?

  5. Apply

    Paul warns that "those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts." How does the orientation of your financial goals reflect either a determination to get rich or a godly contentment?

  6. Apply

    Paul charges Timothy to "guard that which is committed to you" — the sound deposit of truth — as his closing instruction. What practices would help you guard the Gospel truth entrusted to your own life and community?

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