1 Timothy 6:6-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:6-12

From the mention of the abuse which some put upon religion, making it to serve their secular advantages, the apostle, I. Takes occasion to show the excellency of contentment and the evil of covetousness. 1. The excellency of contentment, 1 Tim. 6:6-8. Some account Christianity an advantageous profession for this world. In the sense they mean this is false; yet it is undoubtedly true that, though Christianity is the worst trade, it is the best calling in the world. Those that make a trade of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

6:6-8 And in truth godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and it is quite clear that we cannot take anything out of it either; but if we have food and shelter, we shall be content with them. The word here used for contentment is autarkeia (0841). This was one of the great watchwords of the Stoic philosophers. By it they meant a complete self-sufficiency. They meant a frame of mind which was completely independent of all outward things, and which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain. By "godliness" is not meant any particular grace, but all the graces of the Spirit of God; as faith, hope, love, fear, &c.; the whole of internal religion, as it shows itself in outward worship, and in all acts of holiness of life and conversation; and which the doctrine that is according to godliness teaches and engages to; and this is gain, very great gain indeed. A man possessed of true godliness is a gaining, thriving, man: such as are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:7

For we brought nothing into this world ,.... Which is a reason both clearly showing that godliness is great gain, since those who have it brought nothing into the world with them but sin, and yet are now in such happy circumstances as before described; and that godly persons should be content with what they have, even of worldly things, seeing they are so much more than they had when they came into the world, into which they came naked; and which should be a quieting consideration under the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment ,.... "Food" includes all things necessary to be ate and drank, of which there is a great variety, and is here expressed in the plural number; and "raiment" every necessary covering, as the word used signifies, and includes an habitation, which is a cover and shelter from the inclementencies of the weather. And now having all these comforts and necessaries of life, food to eat, and drink to extinguish thirst and refresh, raiment to put on, and a house to dwell in,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain - The word godliness, ευσεβεια , here, and in several other places of this epistle, signifies the true religion, Christianity; and the word contentment, αυταρκεια , signifies a competency, a sufficiency; that measure or portion of secular things which is necessary for the support of life, while the great work of regeneration is carrying on in the soul. Not what this or the other person may deem a competency, but what is necessary for the mere... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:7

We brought nothing into this world - There are some sayings in Seneca which are almost verbatim with this of St. Paul: Nemo nascitur dives; quisquis exit in lucem jussus est lacte et panno esse contentus ; Epist. xx, "No man is born rich; every one that comes into the world is commanded to be content with food and raiment." Excutit natura redeuntem, sicut intrantem; non licet plus auferre, quam intuleris ; Epist., cap. ii. "Nature, in returning, shakes off all incumbrances as in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:8

Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content - Αρκεσθησομεθα· Let us consider this a competency. And it is evident that the apostle considers this a competency, and by these words explains what he said 1 Timothy 6:6 . The word ακεπασματα , which we translate raiment, signifies covering in general; and here means house or lodging, as well as clothing. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:6

Verse 6 6But godliness with sufficiency is great gain In an elegant manner, and with an ironical correction, he instantly throws back those very words in an opposite meaning, as if he had said — “They do wrong and wickedly, who make merchandise of the doctrine of Christ, as if ‘godliness were gain;’ though, undoubtedly, if we form a correct estimate of it, godliness is a great and abundant gain.” And he so calls it, because it brings to us full and perfect blessedness. Those men, therefore, are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:7

Verse 7 7For we brought nothing into the world., He adds this for the purpose of setting a limit to the sufficiency. Our covetousness is an insatiable gulf, if it be not restrained; and the best bridle is, when we desire nothing more than the necessity of this life demands; for the reason why we transgress the bounds, is, that our anxiety extends to a thousand lives which we falsely imagine. Nothing is more common, and indeed nothing is more generally acknowledged, than this statement of Paul;... read more

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