1 Timothy 6:17

6:17-21 Being rich in this world is wholly different from being rich towards God. Nothing is more uncertain than worldly wealth. Those who are rich, must see that God gives them their riches; and he only can give to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them. What is the best estate worth, more than as it gives opportunity of doing the more good? Showing faith in Christ by fruits of love, let us lay hold on eternal life, when the self-indulgent, covetous, and ungodly around, lift up their eyes in torment. That learning which opposes the truth of the gospel, is not true science, or real knowledge, or it would approve the gospel, and consent to it. Those who advance reason above faith, are in danger of leaving faith. Grace includes all that is good, and grace is an earnest, a beginning of glory; wherever God gives grace, he will give glory.

{11} Charge them that are rich in {g} this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the {h} living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (11) He adds as an overabundance as it were a sharp admonition to the rich, that they mainly take heed of two evils, that is, of pride, and deceitful hope, against which he sets three excellent virtues, hope in the living God, liberality towards their neighbour, and gentle conditions. (g) In things pertaining to this life, with whom those men are compared who are rich in good works. (h) Who alone is, and that everlasting: for he sets the frail nature of riches against God.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 . What follows seems to be a kind of postscript. Charge them that are rich in this world — Rich in such beggarly riches as this world affords. For the clause, εν τω νυν αιωνι , seems evidently to be added to extenuate the value of riches, which extend only to this transitory and precarious world, and cannot attend us into the other; nor, if they did, could at all influence our happiness there; that they be not high-minded — That they do not think better of themselves on account of their money, or any thing it can purchase. But, alas! who regards this advice? Nor trust in uncertain riches — Which they may lose in an hour, either for happiness or defence. Those who place their happiness in the enjoyment of sensual pleasure, or in the possession of the conveniences and elegancies of life, naturally trust to their riches for their happiness, because by their money they can procure these things; and thus they become dead to all sense of their dependance on God and his providence for their happiness. But in the living God — All the rest is dead clay; who giveth us — As it were, holding them out in his hand; richly — Freely, plentifully; all things — Which we have; to enjoy — As his gift, in him and for him. When we use them thus, we do indeed enjoy all things.

That they do good — Make this their daily employ; that they be rich — That they abound; in good works — To their utmost ability; ready to distribute — Singly, to particular persons; willing to communicate — To join in all public works of benevolence and beneficence. These advices clearly show that there was not, at this time, a community of goods among Christians in general: for in that case there could have been no room for the exhortation here given, and the distinction on which it is founded. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation — Hereby manifesting the truth of their faith in Christ, and in the promises of his gospel, and the genuineness of their love to God and mankind, and thereby proving that they are united to Christ, and made heirs through him of the heavenly inheritance; and, by bringing forth these fruits of righteousness, obtain for themselves, from the free mercy of God in Christ, an everlasting and abundant reward; that they may lay hold on eternal life — This cannot be done by alms-deeds, or any good works that we can perform; which are all so defective, that they have need of a pardon, instead of being sufficient to procure for us eternal life.

Charge them that are rich in this world: those that are rich in grace, and the good things of another life, need not this charge; but there are divers at Ephesus who have great estates in goods, or houses, or lands, and but poor in gracious habits, charge them. That they be not highminded; that their riches do not lift them up into a high conceit or opinion of themselves, which worldly riches often do. Nor trust in uncertain riches; and that they repose no confidence in them, making them their strong city, Proverbs 10:15 , as if they could secure them from evil, or make them happy. But in the living God; but let them repose their trust in God, who hath life in himself, giveth life unto all other things, and liveth for ever. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; and is he who gives us all we have, though it be bought with our penny.

1 Timothy 6:17 . Τοῖς πλουσίοις , the rich ) There were many rich men at Ephesus. This forms the Appendix ( the Postscript ) of the epistle, which is of great importance.— ἠλπικέναι , to have trust ) This bad ‘trust,’ which nerves the grasp with which they cling to riches, checks the enjoyment ( ἀπόλαυσιν ), which Paul presently mentions.— ἀδηλότητι , uncertain ) [lit. the uncertainty of riches ]. We ought for this reason not to trust in wealth, because it is most uncertain , as regards the time to come ( εἰς τὸ μέλλον , 1 Timothy 6:19 ).— ἐπὶ τῷ Θεῷ , upon , or in God ) Al. Aug . 6, Boerner . Clar. Colb. 7, even more than these have ἐπί . So the antithesis is more expressly marked to the words, ἐπὶ πλούτου ἀδηλότητι . Trust , when leaning upon God, is strong. The common reading has ἐν , subjoining τῷ Θεῷ τῷ ζῶντι , taken from ch. 1 Timothy 4:10 , as I think; for Al. Boern. Colb . 7, Rae . 2, Aeth. Lat . in M.S., Reutling, Gildas, Haimo , have not τῷ ζῶντι .[54]— πλουσίως , richly ) otherwise no one would be πλούσιος , rich .— εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν , to enjoy ) Enjoyment consists in giving, not in holding fast. Inactivity ( i.e. the state of non-employment) should be far removed, as from man, so also from his resources: Jam 5:2-3 . [54] Ἐπὶ is the reading of Lachm., with AD( Δ ) corrected, G Orig. 1, 709 b cod . Tisch., with less authority, viz. f Vulg. Orig. cod. , and Rec. Text, reads ἐν . These latter, except Vulg. (best MSS.), add τῷ ζῶντι to Θεῷ ; and so also D( Δ ) and both Syr

Them that are rich in this world (τοῖς πλουσίοις ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι) Forming one conception. Chrysostom says:; "Rich in this world, for others are rich in the world to come." Comp. Luke 16:25. Πλουσίος rich, by Paul only metaphorically. See 2 Corinthians 8:9; Ephesians 2:4. The phrase ὁ νῦν αἰών the now age, only here and Titus 2:12, the usual expression being ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος this age or world, which is not found in Pastorals. Be not highminded (μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν) The verb N.T.o. olxx, oClass. Comp. Romans 11:20; Romans 12:16. Uncertain riches (πλούτου ἀδηλότητι) A rendering which weakens the sense by withdrawing the emphasis from the thought of uncertainty. Rend. the uncertainty of riches. For a similar construction see Romans 6:4. Ἁδηλότης uncertainty, N.T.o. olxx. Originally obscurity. Πλοῦτος wealth, frequent in Paul, but never in the material sense. The play upon the word rich in this and the next verse will be noticed. To enjoy (εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν) Lit. for enjoyment. Only here and Hebrews 11:25. See 3 Macc. 7:16. In class. occasionally, but the verb ἀπολαύειν to have enjoyment or benefit is common. A contrast is implied between being highminded on account of wealth - cherishing and worshipping it - and rightly enjoying it. The true character of such enjoyment is shown in the next verse.

17. Resuming the subject from above, 1Ti 6:5, 10. The immortality of God, alone rich in glory, and of His people through Him, is opposed to the lust of money (compare 1Ti 6:14-16). From speaking of the desire to be rich, he here passes to those who are rich: (1) What ought to be their disposition; (2) What use they ought to make of their riches, and, (3) The consequences of their so using them. rich in this world—contrasted with the riches of the future kingdom to be the portion of believers at Christ's "appearing," 1Ti 6:14. high-minded—often the character of the rich (see Ro 12:16). trust—Greek, "to have their trust resting." in … in—rather, "upon … upon," as the oldest manuscripts. uncertain riches—rather as Greek, "the uncertainty of riches." They who rest their trust on riches, rest trust on uncertainty itself (Pr 23:5). Now they belong to one person, now to another, and that which has many masters is possessed by none [Theodoret]. living God—The best manuscripts and versions omit "living." He who trusts in riches transfers to them the duty he owes to God [Calvin]. who giveth—Greek, "affordeth." all things richly—temporal and eternal, for the body and for the soul. In order to be truly rich, seek to be blessed of, and in, God (Pr 10:22; 2Pe 1:3). to enjoy—Greek, "for enjoyment." Not that the heart may cleave to them as its idol and trust (1Ti 4:3). Enjoyment consists in giving, not in holding fast.

Verse 17. - This present for this , A.V.; have their hope set on the uncertainty of for trust in uncertain , A.V.; on God for in the living God , A.V. and T.R. Charge ( παράγγελλε ); as in 1 Timothy 1:3 ; 1 Timothy 4:11 ; 1 Timothy 5:7 ; and in ver. 13, and elsewhere frequently. Rich in this present world. Had St. Paul in his mind the parable of Dives and Lazarus (comp. Luke 16:19, 25 )? That they be not high-minded ( μὴ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν ); elsewhere only in Romans 11:20 . The words compounded with ὑψηλός have mostly a bad sense - "haughtiness," "boastfulness," and the like. The uncertainty ( ἀδηλότητι ); here only in the New Testament, but used in the same sense in Polybius (see ἄδηλος in 1 Corinthians 14:8 ; and ἀδήλως in 1 Corinthians 9:6 ). The A.V., though less literal, expresses the sense much better than the R.V., which is hardly good English. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy ; for enjoyment. The gifts are God's. Trust, therefore, in the Giver, not in the gift. The gift is uncertain; the Giver liveth forever. (For the sentiment that God is the Giver of all good, comp. James 1:17 ; Psalm 104:28 ; Psalm 145:16 , etc.) 1 Timothy 6:17