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1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV

NT

1 Timothy 6:17-19

esv

17 As for the rich in a this present age, charge them b not to be haughty, nor c to set their hopes on d the uncertainty of riches, but on God, e who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, f to be rich in good works, to be generous and g ready to share, 19 thus h storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may i take hold of j that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NA28

1 Timothy 6:17-19

na28

17 Τοῖς πλουσίοις ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι παράγγελλε μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν μηδὲ ἠλπικέναι ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ θεῷ τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πάντα πλουσίως εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν, 18 ἀγαθοεργεῖν, πλουτεῖν ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς, εὐμεταδότους εἶναι, κοινωνικούς, 19 ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς τὸ μέλλον, ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται τῆς ὄντως ζωῆς.

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1 Timothy 6:17-19

na28

Τοῖς πλουσίοις ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι παράγγελλε μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν

As for the rich in a this present age, charge them b not to be haughty,

μηδὲ ἠλπικέναι ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι

nor c to set their hopes on d the uncertainty of riches,

ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ θεῷ

but on God,

τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πάντα πλουσίως εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν,

e who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

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ἀγαθοεργεῖν,

They are to do good,

πλουτεῖν ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς,

f to be rich in good works,

εὐμεταδότους εἶναι,

to be generous

κοινωνικούς,

and g ready to share,

series

ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς τὸ μέλλον,

thus h storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,

ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται τῆς ὄντως ζωῆς.

so that they may i take hold of j that which is truly life.

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Commentary

This short section after the magisterial charge (6:11-16) to Timothy shows that Paul never left the topic of corrupting worldly desire (6:3-10). Here he gives instructions to those who are rich. It is not evil to be rich, only to set one’s hope upon riches. Those who are rich who do not hope in their riches will be generous with their riches and “ready to share” (6:18d), with the result that they are trading in what will perish for what is eternal, “that which is truly life” (6:19d). That Paul is still on the topic of worldly desires suggests that one of the highest and serious charges in the New Testament is in the context of not desiring the world more than God. This should be as smelling-salts to those of us living in the Western world. We have more than we need, but many of us would add to Paul’s list of clothing and food (with which we should be content) all of our possessions that we use daily and take for granted. Instead, we must be generous with all that we have and seek contentment in godliness, for the sake of the gospel of the God who is sending our Lord Jesus Christ back again for his people.