1 Timothy 6 — Greek text and reception
Each card preserves the Greek reading and its textual and reception notes. This source provides a Greek study edition; Hebrew counterparts and Hebrew–Greek classifications are not supplied.
Chapter 6
Slaves and believing masters
Verse 6:1
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Let all who are slaves under a yoke consider their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Slaves under a yoke keeps enslavement explicit. Honor toward masters is linked to avoiding blasphemy of God’s name and teaching; the sentence does not describe wage employment. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 16, on 5:21–6:2 [R16].
Verse 6:2
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
And those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brothers, but rather serve them more, because those receiving the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Those receiving the benefit is taken with the believing masters; taking part in the good work is another construal. Brotherhood does not erase the source’s slavery setting. Teach and exhort closes the instruction. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 16, on 5:21–6:2 [R16].
Godliness and gain
Verse 6:3
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
If anyone teaches differently and does not approach sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the teaching according to godliness,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Teaches differently recalls 1:3. Sound words are identified with those of the Lord Jesus Christ, alongside teaching according to godliness; the condition continues into 6:4–5. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:4
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
he has become conceited, knowing nothing, but is sick with disputes and battles over words, from which come envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Conceited and knowing nothing contrast with the claim to teach. Sickness describes disputes and word battles metaphorically; envy, strife, slanders and evil suspicions remain separate consequences. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:5
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
constant friction among people corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, supposing godliness to be a means of gain.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Constant friction completes the preceding list. The error is treating godliness as a means of gain. The selected text has no added withdraw from such people clause. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:6
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Gain repeats 6:5’s noun but now joins godliness with contentment. The positive statement is not a promise that devotion produces material wealth. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:7
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For we brought nothing into the world, because neither can we carry anything out.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Because retains the selected text’s difficult hoti connection, also interpretable as explanatory for. Nothing brought in and nothing carried out remain paired; it is certain is not added. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17]. Polycarp explicitly reuses the saying in Philippians, chapter 4 (opening) [R20].
Verse 6:8
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But having food and coverings, with these we will be content.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Food and coverings are plural provisions; coverings may include clothing and shelter. We will be content retains the future expression without itemizing a modern standard of living. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:9
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But those who want to become rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge human beings into ruin and destruction.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Those wanting to become rich, rather than every possessor of wealth, are the subject. Temptation, snare and harmful desires lead into the drowning image of ruin and destruction. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:10
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
For the love of money is a root of all evils, and some, reaching for it, wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Love of money is the subject, not money itself. The articleless predicate allows a root but does not mechanically require the English indefinite article. All evils retains the plural; wandering and self-piercing remain distinct consequences. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17]. Polycarp explicitly reuses the saying in Philippians, chapter 4 (opening) [R20].
Biblical connection — Thematic connection: Matthew 6:24. The warning about love of money can be read beside Jesus' teaching that one cannot serve both God and wealth.
Reception — Early Christian citation: Polycarp repeats the warning about love of money and turns it into an exhortation to obedient living. St. Polycarp of Smyrna · Letter to the Philippians 4.
The good confession
Verse 6:11
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
But you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Man of God directly addresses Timothy. Flee is balanced by pursue, followed by six virtues; gentleness renders praupathia without silently replacing the selected form. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:12
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Struggle in the good struggle of the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and confessed the good confession before many witnesses.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Struggle in the good struggle preserves the repeated contest word. Calling, taking hold of eternal life and the good confession before many witnesses remain distinct; the occasion is not named. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 17, on 6:2b–12 [R17].
Verse 6:13
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
I command you before God, who preserves all things alive, and Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Zōogoneō is rendered preserves alive. Before Pontius Pilate can also be during his governorship. Christ’s good confession supplies the charge’s example without quoting a reconstructed trial statement. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:14
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
that you keep the commandment spotless, above reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Keep the commandment is qualified by spotless and above reproach. Until the appearing retains the stated horizon; Timothy’s death is not substituted for Christ’s appearing. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:15
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
which the blessed and only Sovereign will display at the proper times, the King of those who reign and Lord of those who rule,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: The blessed and only Sovereign will display the appearing at proper times. King of those who reign and Lord of those who rule preserve the paired supremacy expressions. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:16
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no human being has seen or can see; to Him be honor and eternal might. Amen.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Alone has immortality, unapproachable light and no human seeing remain distinct affirmations. The imagery is not converted into physical coordinates; honor, eternal might and Amen close the doxology. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Rich in good works
Verse 6:17
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
Command those who are rich in the present age not to be high-minded nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us all things for enjoyment,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Rich in the present age identifies the addressees. Two prohibitions concern pride and hope in uncertain wealth; God’s abundant provision for enjoyment gives the positive contrast. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:18
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Doing good, being rich in good works, generosity and readiness to share continue the commands to the wealthy. Rich is deliberately reused for their conduct. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:19
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Storing up a good foundation combines treasure and building images. The selected goal is life that is truly life, without eternal in this clause; the future orientation remains explicit. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Guard the entrusted deposit
Verse 6:20
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted, turning away from profane empty talk and the opposing claims of falsely named knowledge,
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Guard what has been entrusted preserves the deposit image. Falsely named knowledge is not automatically a later named school or a substitute for modern science; empty talk and opposing claims remain distinct. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].
Verse 6:21
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
which some, professing, missed the mark concerning the faith. Grace be with you.
Textual & Reception Notes
Text: Missed the mark recalls 1:6. The final you is plural, extending the grace greeting beyond Timothy alone; the selected text has no final Amen. Reception: Chrysostom, Homily 18, on 6:13–21 [R18].