1 Timothy 6: 11-21 ( i need help to understand this chapter)
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Paul was reminding Timothy that he had a calling, a “charge”, and a commandment to fight the good fight of faith, meaning that he was to (a) guard his heart and mind against sin, (b) preach and teach the truth he had been given, and (c) prevent false teachers from corrupting the minds of Christians over whom he had oversight.
In this portion (11-21) he was commanded to instruct rich Christians to avoid trusting in their riches, but rather use them to do good to others and thus lay up treasure in Heaven. He also instructed Timothy to avoid unprofitable questions, "vain babblings" (useless talk) and Gnosticism (opposition of science – gnosis -- falsely so called). Paul includes a doxology to Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, and reminds Timothy to conduct himself in view of the appearing of Christ for His saints. Everything said to Timothy would be equally applicable to all Christians reading this portion of Scripture.
In this portion (11-21) he was commanded to instruct rich Christians to avoid trusting in their riches, but rather use them to do good to others and thus lay up treasure in Heaven. He also instructed Timothy to avoid unprofitable questions, "vain babblings" (useless talk) and Gnosticism (opposition of science – gnosis -- falsely so called). Paul includes a doxology to Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, and reminds Timothy to conduct himself in view of the appearing of Christ for His saints. Everything said to Timothy would be equally applicable to all Christians reading this portion of Scripture.
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My comments are in blue.
It is necessary to start with verse 9 & 10 because 'these things' in verse 11 refers back to them.
1 Tim 6:9-21
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.
Wealth is not in itself a problem. The attitude of self-sufficiency which often comes with wealth keeps many wealthy people from recognizing and acknowledging their dependence on Jesus.
follow after means seek in this context.
righteousness is right standing with God. It can NOT be secured by our own efforts but can only be attained through dependence n Jesus to give us His.
godliness is doing things God's way and not our own way.
faith is a lifestyle of living with the expectation that God will do as He says He will do.
love in this sense is actively seeking and promoting the welfare and best interests of the one who is loved.
patience is cheerful acceptance of the fact that God honors His promises in His own time.
meekness is not insisting on your own way even when it is in your power to do so.
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.
Fight the good fight of faith means expect your faith to be challenged by unbelievers and be prepared to defend your faith.
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;
quickeneth means gives life to.
Jesus uncompromisingly answered Pilate with the truth from God's perspective.
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
That thou keep this commandment: follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Which in his times he shall shew: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness
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.
Jesus is the ONLY source of eternal life.
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.
The wealthy are exhorted to use a substantial part of their wealth to relieve the needs of the poor.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
When people attribute to science ideas which challenge the truth of God's word; steadfastly believe that God's Word is correct.
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
KJV
It is necessary to start with verse 9 & 10 because 'these things' in verse 11 refers back to them.
1 Tim 6:9-21
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.
Wealth is not in itself a problem. The attitude of self-sufficiency which often comes with wealth keeps many wealthy people from recognizing and acknowledging their dependence on Jesus.
follow after means seek in this context.
righteousness is right standing with God. It can NOT be secured by our own efforts but can only be attained through dependence n Jesus to give us His.
godliness is doing things God's way and not our own way.
faith is a lifestyle of living with the expectation that God will do as He says He will do.
love in this sense is actively seeking and promoting the welfare and best interests of the one who is loved.
patience is cheerful acceptance of the fact that God honors His promises in His own time.
meekness is not insisting on your own way even when it is in your power to do so.
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.
Fight the good fight of faith means expect your faith to be challenged by unbelievers and be prepared to defend your faith.
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;
quickeneth means gives life to.
Jesus uncompromisingly answered Pilate with the truth from God's perspective.
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
That thou keep this commandment: follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
Which in his times he shall shew: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness
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.
Jesus is the ONLY source of eternal life.
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.
The wealthy are exhorted to use a substantial part of their wealth to relieve the needs of the poor.
20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
When people attribute to science ideas which challenge the truth of God's word; steadfastly believe that God's Word is correct.
21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
KJV
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Chapter 1:8, 15-18 tells us he was in prison in Rome. Paul is giving Timothy a pull-up and giving Timothy a ckearification of one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible, I Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
People always seem to leave this part out, "the love of" they just say ""For money is the root of evil" and leave out "the love of" Verses 11-21 clearify verse 10 with the reason and all angels of the verse.
People always seem to leave this part out, "the love of" they just say ""For money is the root of evil" and leave out "the love of" Verses 11-21 clearify verse 10 with the reason and all angels of the verse.
I think we should define wealthy...I like bob's definition...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GkyZr9VzPY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GkyZr9VzPY
I would think being wealthy is having a little more than a person needs .As goods increase so do those who consume them.
While seven would indicate enough.. eight is required wisdom to share the bread. And not like the man who bought bigger barns storing away the eighth.
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.Ecc 11:1
I for sure am not any kind of financial expert. I think it has to do with two different kinds of wisdom . Wisdom that comes as goods increase and wisdom wisdom that comes from above, as Christ increases we decrease .
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.Jam 3:13
Ecclesiastic 7 gives us more insight in to the end of things.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.Ecc 7:8
Wherefore no man can discover the future even five minutes from now . learn to be satisfied with waht we do have and the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding will walk with you from the moment a persons breaks the morning fast
Like David said a person can bank on a number greater than all the sand.as a off shore account.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: "when I awake", I am still with thee. Psa 139:17
While seven would indicate enough.. eight is required wisdom to share the bread. And not like the man who bought bigger barns storing away the eighth.
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.Ecc 11:1
I for sure am not any kind of financial expert. I think it has to do with two different kinds of wisdom . Wisdom that comes as goods increase and wisdom wisdom that comes from above, as Christ increases we decrease .
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.Jam 3:13
Ecclesiastic 7 gives us more insight in to the end of things.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.Ecc 7:8
Wherefore no man can discover the future even five minutes from now . learn to be satisfied with waht we do have and the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding will walk with you from the moment a persons breaks the morning fast
Like David said a person can bank on a number greater than all the sand.as a off shore account.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: "when I awake", I am still with thee. Psa 139:17
Hello microxaen,
To me, the lesson I glean from these verses are .......
Paul is writing to Timothy (as a father to a son) with instructions of how to teach and care for believers in Christ, of which Timothy is a God appointed pastor - Paul knows this. So, imagine an old shepherd "passing the baton" to a young shepherd by teaching him how to take care of the sheep.
The heart and mind of the believer (sheep) are the targets of the enemy. Our love for God and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the enemy is after.
Paul wants Timothy to know how the enemy will attack believers. Paul is instructing Timothy to warn and protect the sheep - tell them to guard their hearts and minds.
Love of money can destroy love for God in the heart of a believer and doubt can destroy faith in the mind of a believer. As believers, (for survival which is to inherit eternal life) we MUST love God with ALL our heart and NOT doubt but, with faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, King, Son of the Living God put our trust and confidence in Him - hold on to the Truth and sell it not for the riches of this world nor the human science reasoning's of this world.
When a believer has a lot of wealth, if the believer loves God with all their heart then they will be a giver with the wealth; however, if the believer does NOT love God with all their heart then, they will love money more than God and put their trust in their money and not give and help others. They will fall away and eventually depart from the faith in Jesus Christ.
Those that hold fast and keep love for God in their hearts and faith in their minds, knowing the Truth - these sheep shall NOT be devoured by the enemy.
Hope this helped!
To me, the lesson I glean from these verses are .......
Paul is writing to Timothy (as a father to a son) with instructions of how to teach and care for believers in Christ, of which Timothy is a God appointed pastor - Paul knows this. So, imagine an old shepherd "passing the baton" to a young shepherd by teaching him how to take care of the sheep.
The heart and mind of the believer (sheep) are the targets of the enemy. Our love for God and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the enemy is after.
Paul wants Timothy to know how the enemy will attack believers. Paul is instructing Timothy to warn and protect the sheep - tell them to guard their hearts and minds.
Love of money can destroy love for God in the heart of a believer and doubt can destroy faith in the mind of a believer. As believers, (for survival which is to inherit eternal life) we MUST love God with ALL our heart and NOT doubt but, with faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, King, Son of the Living God put our trust and confidence in Him - hold on to the Truth and sell it not for the riches of this world nor the human science reasoning's of this world.
When a believer has a lot of wealth, if the believer loves God with all their heart then they will be a giver with the wealth; however, if the believer does NOT love God with all their heart then, they will love money more than God and put their trust in their money and not give and help others. They will fall away and eventually depart from the faith in Jesus Christ.
Those that hold fast and keep love for God in their hearts and faith in their minds, knowing the Truth - these sheep shall NOT be devoured by the enemy.
Hope this helped!
Hello microxaen,
To me, the lesson I glean from these verses are .......
Paul is writing to Timothy (as a father to a son) with instructions of how to teach and care for believers in Christ, of which Timothy is a God appointed pastor - Paul knows this. So, imagine an old shepherd "passing the baton" to a young shepherd by teaching him how to take care of the sheep.
The heart and mind of the believer (sheep) are the targets of the enemy. Our love for God and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the enemy is after.
Paul wants Timothy to know how the enemy will attack believers. Paul is instructing Timothy to warn and protect the sheep - tell them to guard their hearts and minds.
Love of money can destroy love for God in the heart of a believer and doubt can destroy faith in the mind of a believer. As believers, (for survival which is to inherit eternal life) we MUST love God with ALL our heart and NOT doubt but, with faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, King, Son of the Living God put our trust and confidence in Him - hold on to the Truth and sell it not for the riches of this world nor the human science reasoning's of this world.
When a believer has a lot of wealth, if the believer loves God with all their heart then they will be a giver with the wealth; however, if the believer does NOT love God with all their heart then, they will love money more than God and put their trust in their money and not give and help others. They will fall away and eventually depart from the faith in Jesus Christ.
Those that hold fast and keep love for God in their hearts and faith in their minds, knowing the Truth - these sheep shall NOT be devoured by the enemy.
Hope this helped!
To me, the lesson I glean from these verses are .......
Paul is writing to Timothy (as a father to a son) with instructions of how to teach and care for believers in Christ, of which Timothy is a God appointed pastor - Paul knows this. So, imagine an old shepherd "passing the baton" to a young shepherd by teaching him how to take care of the sheep.
The heart and mind of the believer (sheep) are the targets of the enemy. Our love for God and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is what the enemy is after.
Paul wants Timothy to know how the enemy will attack believers. Paul is instructing Timothy to warn and protect the sheep - tell them to guard their hearts and minds.
Love of money can destroy love for God in the heart of a believer and doubt can destroy faith in the mind of a believer. As believers, (for survival which is to inherit eternal life) we MUST love God with ALL our heart and NOT doubt but, with faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, King, Son of the Living God put our trust and confidence in Him - hold on to the Truth and sell it not for the riches of this world nor the human science reasoning's of this world.
When a believer has a lot of wealth, if the believer loves God with all their heart then they will be a giver with the wealth; however, if the believer does NOT love God with all their heart then, they will love money more than God and put their trust in their money and not give and help others. They will fall away and eventually depart from the faith in Jesus Christ.
Those that hold fast and keep love for God in their hearts and faith in their minds, knowing the Truth - these sheep shall NOT be devoured by the enemy.
Hope this helped!
