6Godliness with contentment is great gain. [6:7] For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it. [6:8] But having food and covering, with these we will be content. [6:9] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. [6:10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1TI 6:6-10
Godliness with Contentment
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, wealth and status were tightly linked to honor and social standing. The pursuit of riches was often seen as a virtuous ambition, especially within the patronage system, where accumulating wealth enabled one to act as a benefactor. However, Stoic and Cynic philosophers critiqued this mindset, advocating for (self-sufficiency) and detachment from material desires. The term (godliness) here would have been understood not merely as personal piety but as a life ordered in proper reverence toward God and societal norms. The warning against the love of money reflects a common critique in Jewish and Greco-Roman moral traditions, where greed was seen as a root of moral corruption. The imagery of falling into a snare and being pierced with sorrows would resonate with listeners familiar with the consequences of unchecked ambition, particularly in urban settings where economic disparities were stark. This passage challenges the cultural assumption that wealth equates to success, urging contentment with basic necessities.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
1TI 6:6
- KJV
- But godliness with contentment is great gain.
- BSB
- Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Koinōnos
- Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1TI 6:7
- KJV
- For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
- BSB
- For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.
- Koinōnos
- For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of it.
1TI 6:8
- KJV
- And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
- BSB
- But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
- Koinōnos
- But having food and covering, with these we will be content.
1TI 6:9
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- Koinōnos
- But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1TI 6:10
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
- Koinōnos
- For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1TI 6:6
- gain:The word translated 'gain' here refers to the act of acquiring wealth or the means by which one makes a living, often with a connotation of profit or material advantage.
- godliness:The term used here for 'godliness' described a practical reverence and devotion, not just an inner feeling, but an outward expression of piety towards the divine and often towards parents.
- contentment.:The word translated 'contentment' carried the sense of self-sufficiency or independence, not in a prideful way, but as having enough within oneself or from one's own resources.
1TI 6:9
- plunge:The word translated 'plunge' literally meant to sink something, like a ship, or to immerse deeply, suggesting a forceful and often destructive submersion.