1 Timothy 6: Timothy 6:6-Godliness Combined With Contentment Is A Means Of Superior Gain

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1 1 Timothy 6:6-7 1 Timothy 6:6-Godliness Combined With Contentment Is A Means Of Superior Gain Review of 1 Timothy 6:3-5 In 1 Timothy 6:3-10, Paul issues a final indictment against the false teachers in Ephesus. This pericope is the third time in this epistle that Paul has discussed those teaching false doctrine and it is his final indictment of them. The first time Paul discuss the false teachers in Ephesus was in 1 Timothy 1:3-7. The second was found in 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Here in 1 Timothy 6:3-10, he issues a final indictment of those teaching false doctrine whether they are the Judaizers or those pastors following their legalistic teaching. In 1 Timothy 6:3-4a, the apostle Paul describes or identifies the actions and attitude of the false, apostate teachers in Ephesus. Then, in 1 Timothy 6:4b-5a, he describes the various sins that their heretical teaching is producing among believers in Ephesus. Lastly, in 1 Timothy 6:5b, he presents the motivation of the false teachers, which is financial gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-4a If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that someone does teach false doctrine, in other words, they do not agree with sound words, namely that which originates from our Lord who is Jesus who is the Christ, specifically, that teaching which is for the purpose of godliness. And we agree that there are some who do. Then, they are arrogant. Consequently, they understand absolutely nothing. (My translation) The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:3 employs a protasis of a first class condition to present a final indictment against those who teach false doctrine in Ephesus. Then in 1 Timothy 6:4a, he presents the apodasis inferring from the protasis that these false teachers are arrogant and understand nothing. In verse 3, Paul is employing the figure of asyndeton, which emphasizes the importance of this indictment in that it will protect the Ephesian Christian community from disobeying the gospel, i.e. sound doctrine and adhering to false doctrine. It will serve as a warning to them. It would identify the false teachers for the Ephesians because it reveals that they reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, i.e. sound doctrine. Therefore, this figure emphasizes the importance of this indictment of the false teachers with regards to the spiritual well-being of the church. The protasis in verse 3 is if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that someone does teach false doctrine. This is followed by three epexegetical clauses that bring out the implications of these apostate pastors teaching false doctrine. The first is in other words, they do not agree with sound words. The second namely that which originates from our Lord who 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 is Jesus who is the Christ and the third is specifically, that teaching which is for the purpose of godliness. Someone refers to certain unidentified apostate Christian pastors in Ephesus as well as the Judaizers who infiltrated the church teaching adherence to the Law. These individuals as we noted earlier in our study of this epistle composed of both regenerate and unregenerate Jews. Therefore, the word is referring to an unidentified group of individuals in Ephesus who were composed of the Judaizers and apostate pastors. Does teach false doctrine is the verb heterodidaskaleo, which speaks of the act of teaching that which is contrary to the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and apostolic teaching of Paul. The word does not refer to the style of teaching or manner of teaching but the content of teaching. It describes the content of the teaching of these apostate pastors in Ephesus as fundamentally and essentially different than the Lord Jesus Christ s and His apostles such as Paul. It presupposes an accepted standard of teaching in the Christian community throughout the Roman Empire. Paul s use of this verb reflects back on the initial indictment of these false teachers since it was used in 1 Timothy 1:3 when he first addressed the problem of these false teachers and what Timothy was to continue to do about it. In other words, they do not agree with sound words explains in another way or from a different perspective the previous statement, which acknowledged the reality that some individuals in Ephesus were teaching false doctrine. It is bringing out the implications of teaching false doctrine. Namely, their teaching is not in conformity to the apostolic teaching of Paul which originates from the Lord Jesus Christ and thus bears His authority. This first epexegetical clause denies any idea of these apostate pastors and the Judaizers agreeing with the sound words of the Lord Jesus Christ. These two words speak of the rejection of Paul s apostolic teaching which originated from the Lord Jesus Christ by these apostate pastors and the Judaizers who they were following. It indicates that these apostate pastors and the Judaizers were teaching false doctrine which resulted in their existing in the state of not agreeing with the sound doctrines, i.e. the apostolic teaching, which originated from the Lord Jesus Christ and bears His authority. It indicates that these apostate pastors and the Judaizers whose teaching they were adhering to, caused themselves to exist in the state of not agreeing with the sound teaching which originated from the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the result of teaching false doctrine. Words is the noun logos, which refers to the content of what Paul taught in his gospel, which is indicated by the fact that Paul is contrasting the content of his teaching with that of the false teaching of the apostate pastors in Ephesus which originated with the Judaizers. The word does not refer to the content of the Lord Jesus Christ s teaching. Rather, it refers to Paul s apostolic teaching because 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 what s at issue in this epistle is that some Christians in Ephesus had rejected Paul s apostolic teaching and instead were following the Judaizers teaching. Paul is writing First Timothy to deal with this rejection of his apostolic teaching, which gets its authority from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The false doctrine of these apostate pastors in Ephesus got their teaching from the Judaizers. The expression ὑγιαίνουσιν λόγοις, sound words refers to Paul s apostolic teaching because he wrote this epistle to deal with the rejection of this teaching by many in the Ephesian Christian community. Sound is used to describe Paul s apostolic teaching which originated from the Lord Jesus Christ, and stood in direct contrast to the false doctrine taught by certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus and the Judaizers. Sound words refers to Paul s gospel, which is the accepted and authoritative teaching of the church that is free from error or falsehood since it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and originates from the Lord Jesus Christ. This teaching promotes spiritual growth in the body of Christ as well as godliness. This is in contrast to the false doctrine taught by these unidentified pastors in Ephesus and the Judaizers, which produced ungodly conduct in those who adhered to it. The second epexegetical clause namely that which originates from our Lord who is Jesus who is the Christ is clarifying what Paul means by the expression sound words. This clause denotes the authority of Jesus Christ indicating that Paul s apostolic teaching is based upon the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, which stands in stark contrast to the false teaching of the apostate pastors in Ephesus whose teaching originated with the Judaizers. Therefore, with this word Paul is saying that his teaching is based upon the absolute sovereign authority of the Creator, Jesus Christ who is the chief administrators in the divine government. It is indicating that Paul s sound doctrinal teaching originated from the Lord Jesus Christ. This stands in stark contrast with those teaching false doctrine, which originated from the kingdom of darkness. The third epexegetical clause specifically, that teaching which is for the purpose of godliness explains in another way or from a different perspective the previous statement. It explains from a different perspective the statement µὴ προσέρχεται ὑγιαίνουσιν λόγοις τοῖς τοῦ κυρίου ἡµῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, they do not agree with sound words, namely that which originates from our Lord, who is Jesus who is the Christ. It presents a different description of Paul s apostolic teaching. The first description was it was sound words, which originate from our Lord Jesus Christ. The second is that his teaching was for the purpose of producing godliness. Therefore, these two statements are synonymous with the first emphasizing the content of Paul s apostolic teaching and the second emphasizing that which his teaching produces in believers William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 Teaching is the noun didaskalia, which is used in an objective sense and is referring to the content of Paul s apostolic teaching. For the purpose of godliness marks the purpose of Paul s apostolic teaching. It marks the goal of Paul s apostolic teaching. Godliness is the worship of God through one s conduct that is produced by the Holy Spirit as a result of exercising faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to the Word of God. It means that the Christian is conforming their attitude and conduct to the will of the Father as a result of faith in the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God resulting in obedience to the Father s will. The Christian s faith in the Word of God appropriates the power of the Holy Spirit resulting in conformity of their attitude and conduct to the will of the Father, which is revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God. This constitutes worshipping God. Godliness involves the Christian exercising faith in the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God, i.e. the gospel that they are crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ, which results in the Christian thinking and acting like Christ. It refers to the Christian way of life, which is experiencing eternal life by appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. It refers to conduct that honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will. It also denotes that this conduct honors God because it is in obedience to His commands and prohibitions and is empowered by His Spirit. This conduct expresses one s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him. Godliness is the result of appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is in union with Christ identified with Him in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session. This results in obedience to the commands and prohibitions in the Word of God that are inspired by the Spirit. It also results in godly conduct that honors the Father and reflects His perfect norms and standards. Also, it manifests the character of Christ in the life of the believer as well as the omnipotence of God in that exercising faith in the Spirit s teaching that one is in union with Christ and identified with Him appropriates the omnipotence of God. Then, they are arrogant is the apodasis, which is presenting the inference from the protasis. The inference from this protasis is that these men are arrogant. It emphasizes the present state of arrogance of the apostate pastors in Ephesus who were teaching false doctrine. Consequently, they understand absolutely nothing is a result clause that indicates that these apostate pastors who were teaching false doctrine were in a state of ignorance as a result of their arrogance. It means that they do not intellectually comprehend the will of the Father because they expressed unbelief in Paul s apostolic teaching. By rejecting Paul s apostolic teaching in favor of 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 teaching false doctrine which originates from the Judaizers and ultimately the kingdom of darkness and Satan, these apostate pastors had absolutely no knowledge of God s will, which is revealed by the Spirit through Paul s gospel. This is indicated by the fact that those teaching false doctrine are claiming they know God s will. They claim to know God s will but yet they don t because they have rejected the means by which God has made known His will for the lives of His children, namely, the gospel which Paul proclaimed throughout the Roman Empire. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:4b-5a describes that which is produced by those teaching false doctrine in Ephesus. He teaches that these false teachers have a sick obsession with pointless arguments about words, which causes envy, dissension, slanders and evil suspicions. He writes that they incessantly argue and are corrupt in their thinking and are defrauded of the truth. 1 Timothy 6:4b-5a But rather he possesses a sick obsession with pointless debates, yes in fact pointless arguments about words from which he does cause envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions. Men incessantly arguing, who are corrupt with regards to their mind as well as defrauded of the truth. (My translation) This verse is an adversative clause that stands in direct contrast with agreeing with Paul s apostolic teaching, which Paul describes in the protasis of verse 3 as sound words, which originate from the Lord Jesus Christ and is for the purpose of producing godliness in believers. In direct contrast to obeying Paul s apostolic teaching, i.e. the gospel, those teaching false doctrine have a morbid interest in controversial issues and verbal disputes, which produce various sins. Therefore, Paul s statement in 1 Timothy 6:4b-5a is marking an emphatic contrast between these apostate pastors in Ephesus obeying Paul s apostolic teaching and not doing so, which is manifested by their teaching false doctrine and having a morbid interest in controversial issues and verbal disputes, which produces sins of all types. Obeying Paul s apostolic teaching produces godliness whereas disobeying it, produces ungodliness. It is also marking an emphatic contrast between godly behavior which obedience to Paul s gospel produces in a believer and ungodly behavior, which is the product of false doctrine. He possesses a sick obsession is the verb noseo, which is a play on words. In 1 Timothy 6:3, Paul described his teaching as sound words. The word sound is hugiaino, which means healthy, sound and describes Paul s teaching as free from error and falsehood in direct contrast to the heretical doctrine of the apostate pastors and Judaizers. This verb describes those teaching false doctrine as mentally and spiritually ill. It describes these false teachers in Ephesus as possessing an unhealthy obsession with controversial issues and arguments in the sense that they 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 possess a persistent and disturbing preoccupation with controversial issues and arguments. Pointless debates is the noun zetesis, which denotes that rather than a true and sincere search for the truth, the false teachers in Ephesus were involved in argumentative debate and dialogues, which were pointless, useless and of no instructional value whatsoever. Pointless arguments about words is the noun logomachia, which indicates that these false teachers in Ephesus possessed an unhealthy obsession with not only pointless debates but also pointless arguments about words. This word is telling us more about the previous noun zetesis, pointless debates in the sense that it is giving us more information about this previous noun. It is telling us that these pointless debates were pointless arguments about words! From which indicates that the sins listed by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:4b-5a (θόνος, envy, ἔρις, strife, βλασφηµίαι, abusive language, ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί, evil suspicions and διαπαρατριβαὶ διεφθαρµένων, constant bickering ) originate from these pointless arguments about words that the false teachers have an unhealthy obsession for. He does cause is the verb ginomai, which indicates that a false teacher causes the sins listed above with his unhealthy obsession with pointless arguments about words. Envy is the noun phthonos, which speaks of acting upon one s jealousy. It expresses the envy which makes one man grudge another something which he himself desires, but does not possess. To envy is to feel resentful, spiteful, and unhappy because someone else possesses or has achieved, what one wishes oneself to possess, or to have achieved. Therefore, envy originates from jealousy. Dissension is the noun eris, which manifests itself in quarreling, disputing, or controversy and is a point advanced or maintained in a debate or argument. It refers to a perverse and stubborn tendency to quarrel and dispute with people, sometimes deteriorating into bitter violent conflict or dissension. The word speaks of the dissension that arises within an individual due to jealousy and is an expression of envy for another. The noun eris emphasizes a struggle for superiority rather than the incongruity or incompatibility of the persons or things involved. The word describes arguing about words because of pride and not truth and originates from envy, ambition, competition and the desire for prestige, and status in life. Slanders is the noun blasphemia, which refers to the act of defaming someone s character as a result of bitterness towards them. Therefore, Paul is teaching that the false teacher s unhealthy obsession with pointless arguments about words causes not only envy and dissension but also slanders William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 Evil suspicions refers to the opinions of the false teacher which is based on scant evidence and is evil in character or contrary to the character and nature of God and His will. It describes these suspicions as contrary to the character and nature of God and His will as revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God. Men incessantly arguing is the direct result of the false teacher s unhealthy obsession with pointless arguments about words. Who are corrupt with regards to their mind refers to the particular manner or way of thinking. It denotes an attitude, practical reasoning or intellect that enables a person to arrive at a conclusion regarding a matter. As a consequence of rejecting Paul s apostolic teaching, i.e. the gospel the intellect of these apostate pastors in Ephesus was not functioning according to God s standards. It was an incompetent intellect in relation to the knowledge of God and His will. By possessing an unhealthy obsession with pointless arguments about words, these apostate pastors who were teaching false doctrine were corrupting their intellect. In other words, they were destroying their ability to arrive at a conclusion regarding the will of God. They were corrupting their ability to think according to God s standards and possess divine viewpoint. The intellectual capacity of the false teachers to comprehend the will and ways of God has been adversely affected in that they are no longer thinking according to the will of the Father as a result of rejecting the gospel and thinking according to the lies of Satan s cosmic system. They are morally degenerate in that they are no longer thinking according to the will of God, which is revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God, and specifically the gospel, which Paul taught. Defrauded of the truth is the verb apostereo, which conveys the idea that these false teachers have been defrauded of the truth of the gospel by deception. The participial clause that follows, namely, νοµιζόντων πορισµὸν εἶναι τὴν εὐσέβειαν, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain presents the means by which they were deceived. They were deceived by Satan and their sin nature that godliness was a means of financial gain. The truth is the noun aletheia, which refers to the revelation of the Father s character, ways and will. Therefore, the word refers to the truth of God in an objective sense as a body of knowledge containing the revelation of God s character and nature, His ways and His will for His children. Specifically, aletheia is a synonym for the gospel. Therefore, the word refers to the content of Paul s teaching that appears in exhaustive detail in the main argument of the Romans epistle in Romans 1:16-15:13. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:5b presents the motivation of those teaching false doctrine in Ephesus William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 1 Timothy 6:5 Men incessantly arguing, who are corrupt with regards to their mind as well as defrauded of the truth who are presuming a religious form of godliness is a means of gaining wealth. (My translation) The statement that ends verse 5, who are presuming a religious form of godliness is a means of gaining wealth describes the motivation of those teaching false doctrine in the Ephesian Christian community. This statement is describing them as acting presumptuously in the sense of overstepping the bounds stipulated by the Word of God. The word denotes that these false teachers have presumed that godliness is a means of financial profit without biblical justification. Godliness is the noun eusebeia, which does not refer to attitude and conduct that honors or worships God. This is indicated by the fact that Paul describes his gospel, i.e. apostolic teaching in 1 Timothy 6:3 as sound words, which originate from our Lord Jesus Christ and is the doctrine which is for the purpose of godliness. The false teachers were not teaching the gospel or in other words, they were not communicating his apostolic teaching to the church but rather were teaching heretical doctrine. He teaches in 1 Timothy 6:4-5 that these apostate pastors have a sick obsession with pointless arguments about words and were incessantly arguing who had corrupt minds and were defrauded of the truth. Therefore, eusebeia in 1 Timothy 6:5 could not possibly be referring to attitude and conduct that honors or worships God since they rejected the only means possible to produce godliness in one s life, namely, the gospel, Paul s apostolic teaching. Rather, the noun refers to a religious profession of adhering to the Christian faith, i.e. doctrine. Those teaching false doctrine used this religious profession as a means to gain for themselves financial wealth. Thus, it does not refer to authentic Christian spirituality that is based upon obedience to the gospel but rather it is a false profession designed to gain wealth for oneself. So the word contains the figure of metonymy meaning that eusebeia, godliness is put for the profession of it. Therefore, it is an inauthentic or a form or outward appearance of godliness, which Paul speaks of in 2 Timothy 3:5. It is in effect a religious form of godliness. A means of gaining wealth speaks of the greed of the apostate pastors in Ephesus who were teaching false doctrine as well as the greed of the Judaizers who the former was adhering to. These false teachers were lovers of money and materialism. It indicates that they were in the ministry for the money or because it pays well. Greed of those teaching false doctrine is condemned in other places in the New Testament (Titus 1:10-11; Hebrews 13:5-6; Jude 4-16; 1 Peter 5:1-2). In 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7, the apostle Paul stipulated that in order for the man with the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher to be ordained to hold the office of overseer, he must be characterized as someone who is not greedy or loves money William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 In 1 Timothy 3:8, Paul taught that those who desired to serve in the office of deacon also must be characterized as not greedy individuals. Paul warns of the consequences of loving money in 1 Timothy 6: Timothy 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. (NASB95) Godliness Accompanied By Contentment is a Great Profit The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:6 teaches that godliness is a means of great profit if accompanied by contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. (NASB95) This verse is composed of the third person singular present active indicative form of the verb eimi (εἰµί) (ee-mee), is and then we have the post-positive conjunction de (δέ) (theh), but and this is followed by nominative masculine singular form of the noun porismos (πορισµός) (poe-reece-moce), a means of gain and modifying it is the nominative masculine singular form of the adjective megas (µέγας) (may-gahs), great and then we have the articular accusative feminine singular form of the noun eusebeia (εὐσέβεια) (ef-sev-ee-ah), godliness and this is followed by the preposition meta (µετά) (meh-tah), when accompanied by and its object is the genitive feminine singular form of the noun autarkeia (αὐτάρκεια) (off-tarkeeah), contentment. De The conjunction de is introducing a statement that stands in contrast with Paul s statement in verse 5b, in which he describes these apostate pastors in Ephesus as those who are presuming a religious form of godliness is a means of gaining wealth. Now here in verse 6, he teaches that godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Therefore, the conjunction de is marking a contrast between the presumption of a religious form of godliness being a means of gaining financial wealth with that of the true form of godliness being a means of great gain spiritually when accompanied by contentment William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 In verse 6, Paul uses two words that he uses in verse 5 to turn a negative assessment expressed by him in verse 5 into a positive assessment in verse 6. He repeats eusebeia, godliness and the noun porismos, a means of gain. In verse 6, he repeats the verb eimi, is and puts it in the emphatic position. He does this to correct the heretical and ungodly attitude of these apostate pastors in Ephesus and to refute this attitude of viewing godliness as a means of gaining financial wealth for oneself. The concept of contentment expressed by the prepositional phrase µετὰ αὐταρκείας, accompanied by contentment defines eusebeia, godliness in verse 6 as that which is an authentic Christianity in contrast that which is inauthentic eusebeia, godliness that is referred to in verse 5. This prepositional phrase makes clear that eusebeia, godliness in verse 6 is fundamentally different than the eusebeia, godliness that appears in verse 5. It defines eusebeia, godliness, namely authentic godliness or Christianity as outside the temporal realm and removes it from material dimensions. Therefore, this prepositional phrase in verse 6 rebukes and refutes the idea of those teaching false doctrine in Ephesus that Christianity or the Christian way of life is about acquiring material possessions or financial wealth. Rather, it teaches that authentic Christianity is that of exercising faith in the Word of God, i.e. the gospel, or sound doctrine which results in obedience to the commands and prohibitions in the Word of God which produces an attitude and conduct that honors God as an expression of worshipping God (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Authentic eusebeia, godliness, i.e. authentic Christianity finds total sufficiency in the promises of God s Word rather than in material possessions or financial wealth. It is Christ-sufficiency rather than self-sufficiency, which was the attitude of the apostate pastors in Ephesus. Authentic eusebeia, godliness finds its sufficiency in one s union and identification with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session. This serves as a rebuke today to those teaching the prosperity gospel throughout America and around the world whose teaching is being propagated through Christian television and the internet. So Paul is teaching in verses 5b and 6 that those apostate pastors-teachers who were teaching false doctrine in Ephesus were not content with food and clothing, which are the essentials of life (cf. 1 Timothy 6:7-8). Consequently, they pursued financial wealth and acquiring material possessions. This was the direct result of possessing a distorted view of Christianity. Therefore, in 1 Timothy 6:6, de introduces a statement that teaches that godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment, which stands in contrast to the attitude of those apostate pastors who were teaching false doctrine who regarded godliness as a means of gaining financial wealth. We will translate de, however William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 Eusebeia As was the case in 1 Timothy 2:2, 3:16, 4:7, 8 and 6:3, the noun eusebeia in 1 Timothy 6:6 refers to conduct that honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will. This conduct honors God because it is in obedience to His commands and prohibitions and is thus empowered by His Spirit who communicates these commands and prohibitions in the Word of God. This conduct expresses one s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him. Therefore, the noun eusebeia means godliness and denotes an attitude and resultant conduct that honors God and is an act of worshipping Him. This attitude and resultant conduct honors God and is an act of worshipping because it is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit and is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, will, and ways. It is based upon faith in His Word resulting in obedience to His commands and prohibitions by the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, eusebeia is the worship of God through one s attitude and conduct that is based upon knowledge of and faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to God s Word, which reveals His character, ways and will. The attitude of the Christian must be based upon knowledge of and faith in God s Word. This will result in conduct that is in obedience to God and therefore honors God and is an act of worshipping Him. Eusebeia refers to proper Christian attitude and conduct that is produced by the Holy Spirit as a result of exercising faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to the Word of God. The word speaks of the Christian experiencing their sanctification and their deliverance from the sin nature, Satan and his cosmic system. It is thinking according to God s Word and conducting one s life according to God s Word, which reveals God s will, character and nature and ways. So eusebeia means godliness in the sense that by the power of the Holy Spirit the Christian is conforming their thinking and conduct according to the Father s will, which is revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. It means that the Christian is conforming their attitude and conduct to the will of the Father as a result of faith in the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God resulting in obedience to the Father s will. The Christian s faith in the Word of God appropriates the power of the Holy Spirit resulting in conformity of their attitude and conduct to the will of the Father, which is revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God. This constitutes worshipping God. Godliness involves the Christian exercising faith in the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God, i.e. the gospel that they are crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ, which results in the Christian thinking and acting like Christ William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 The noun eusebeia in 1 Timothy 6:6 refers to the Christian way of life, which is experiencing eternal life by appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. It refers to conduct that honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will. It also denotes that this conduct honors God because it is in obedience to His commands and prohibitions and is empowered by His Spirit. This conduct expresses one s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him. Therefore, the noun eusebeia means the way of godliness or godly living and denotes an attitude and resultant conduct that honors God and is an act of worshipping Him. This attitude and resultant conduct honors God and is an act of worshipping because it is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit and is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, will, and ways. It is based upon faith in His Word resulting in obedience to His commands and prohibitions by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the worship of God through one s conduct that is based upon knowledge of and faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to God s Word, which reveals His character, ways and will. The noun eusebeia functions as a nominative subject as indicated by its articular construction, which distinguishes the word as the subject and porismos, a means of gain as the predicate nominative. This means that eusebeia is performing the verb eimi, is. We will translate ἡ εὐσέβεια, godliness. Eimi The verb eimi means to exist in a particular state or condition This indicates that eusebeia, godliness i.e. authentic Christianity, exists in the state of being a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. The verb functions as a copula uniting the subject with the predicate nominative. The subject is eusebeia, godliness and the predicate nominative is the noun porismos, a means of gain. The present tense of the verb eimi is a gnomic present, which is used for a general timeless fact or spiritual axiom, or an eternal spiritual truth. This indicates that godliness is as an eternal spiritual truth a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. The present tense is also a customary present tense used to signal an ongoing state indicating that godliness exists in the ongoing state of being a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. The active voice is a stative active indicating the same thing. The indicative mood of the verb is declarative meaning that it is presenting this assertion as a non-contingent or unqualified statement. Therefore, we will translate the verb eimi, is, as an eternal spiritual truth William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 Porismos In 1 Timothy 6:5, we noted that the noun porismos denotes a means of gain or a means of gaining wealth indicating that the apostate pastors in Ephesus who were teaching false doctrine presumed that godliness was a means of gaining wealth or a means of gaining financial wealth. This word speaks of the greed of the apostate pastors in Ephesus who were teaching false doctrine as well as the greed of the Judaizers who the former was adhering to. In this verse, the noun porismos denotes that these false teachers were lovers of money and materialism. It indicates that they were in the ministry for the money or because it pays well. However, in 1 Timothy 6:6, even though the noun porismos denotes a means of gain, its sense has changed due to the presence of the prepositional phrase µετὰ αὐταρκείας, accompanied by contentment. This prepositional phrase makes clear that eusebeia, godliness in verse 6 is fundamentally different than the eusebeia, godliness that appears in verse 5. It defines eusebeia, godliness, namely authentic godliness or Christianity as outside the temporal realm and removes it from material dimensions. Also, the adjective megas, great, which modifies the noun porismos indicates that this noun is superior and It also indicates that porismos in verse 6 is superior to and exceeds the porismos in verse 5. It also indicates that eusebeia, godliness mentioned in verse 6 is superior to and exceeds the eusebeia, godliness mentioned in verse 5. Therefore, the prepositional phrase µετὰ αὐταρκείας, accompanied by contentment and the adjective megas, great indicate that eusebeia, godliness and porismos, a means of gain in verse 6 are connected to the spiritual realm and are thus superior to the eusebeia, godliness and porismos, a means of gain that appear in verse 5. So in 1 Timothy 6:6, the noun porismos has the same meaning as it does in 1 Timothy 6:5. However, it is referring to the spiritual dimension. Godliness is a means of great gain in a spiritual sense when accompanied by contentment. The great gain is acquiring the attitude and perspective that one s union and identification with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session is a great gain to one personally in that one s happiness is not dictated by one s circumstances. The great gain spiritually is resting in one s position in Christ which is eternal rather than trusting in your possessions, which are transitory. It is being defined by who you are in Christ rather than what you possess or your circumstances in life. The great gain is not being affected emotionally by circumstances when they change since one is content with one s circumstances. The great gain is not being a slave to circumstances, which will change or possessions or wealth, which will be taken away William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 In 1 Timothy 6:6, the noun porismos functions as a predicate nominative meaning that the word stands in predicate relation to the noun eusebeia, godliness and is joined by the verb eimi. It is thus making an assertion about godliness from the perspective of the gospel, namely that it was a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. We will translate the word a means of gaining wealth. Megas The adjective megas pertains to being relatively superior in importance (BDAG, 624). It describes eusebeia, godliness in verse 6 as superior to the eusebeia, godliness of those apostate pastors teaching false doctrine mentioned in verse 5. It thus emphasizes the superiority of authentic Christianity or godly living produced by faith and obedience to the gospel in contrast to the inauthentic, counterfeit Christianity of those teaching false doctrine in Ephesus. The godliness produced by the gospel is superior to the godliness produced by the false doctrine of the apostate pastors in Ephesus because it is based upon an historical person, Jesus Christ who performed extraordinary, supernatural deeds, which is confirmed by witnesses and evidence. The false doctrine of the apostate pastors and the Judaizers is based upon lies from Satan s cosmic system. The godliness produced by the gospel is superior to the religious form of godliness produced by the false doctrine taught by the apostate pastors and the Judaizers since it is based upon the will of the Father, which is revealed by the Spirit. The false doctrine of the apostate pastors and the Judaizers is based upon lies from Satan s kingdom. The godliness produced by the gospel is superior to the counterfeit godliness produced by the false doctrine of the apostate pastors in Ephesus and the Judaizers since it is based upon appropriating by faith one s union and identification with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session. The counterfeit godliness produced by false doctrine is based upon the lie that one s wealth and position in life define oneself. It is based upon the lie that good circumstances are essential for happiness. The godliness produced by the gospel is superior in quality to the counterfeit godliness that is produced by false doctrine since the former is divine in quality and the latter is demonic in quality. In 1 Timothy 6:6, the adjective megas is modifying the noun porismos, a means of gain. Together, they denote an attitude and perspective that one s union and identification with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session is a great gain to one personally in that one s happiness is not dictated by one s circumstances. The great gain spiritually is resting in one s position in Christ which is eternal rather than trusting in your possessions, which are transitory. It is 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 being defined by who you are in Christ rather than what you possess or your circumstances in life. The great gain is not being affected emotionally by circumstances when they change since one is content with one s circumstances. The great gain is not being a slave to circumstances, which will change or possessions or wealth, which will be taken away. We will translate megas, superior in quality. Autarkeia In classical Greek, this word is primarily a philosophical term used by both the Cynics and Stoics as well as other philosophical schools in the ancient world. In this usage, it means sufficiency and describes a person who is self-sufficient in the sense of not needing people or things. It also refer to reaching one s potential in life. It occurs once in the Septuagint (Ps. Solomon 5:16). Autarkeia occurs only twice in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Timothy 6:6). In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the word means sufficiency where it is used God providing the Christian that which is essential to sustain human existence. In 1 Timothy 6:6, autarkeia means contentment. Louw and Nida define the word as the state of being content with one s circumstances or lot in life selfcontent, contentment, contentment with what one has. (25.83) It is a state of mind or an attitude that is satisfied with one s position in life and circumstances. Therefore, Paul is teaching with this word that the godliness produced by faith and obedience in the gospel produces contentment. The noun autarkeia denotes a contentment that is satisfied with what one s possesses or does not possess and is a satisfaction with one s circumstances whether it is adversity or prosperity. It is a contentment that is based upon faith in and obedience to the gospel, which constitutes fellowship with God. It is based upon appropriating by faith one s position in Christ. In other words, it is based upon appropriating by faith one is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. It is thus a contentment that is divine in quality and character because it is based upon the will of the Father and the crucifixion, deaths, burial, resurrection and session of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit (baptism and regeneration). It is thus a contentment based upon who God is and what He has provided through both His Son and the Spirit. Webster s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines the noun contentment, the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind. If we paraphrase this definition, we could say that the godliness produced by faith and obedience in the gospel produces a state of being contented, satisfied, at ease in one s thinking regardless of the circumstances, whether adversity or prosperity. It denotes a relaxed mental attitude regardless of his circumstances William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 It is one of the three characteristics of a mature believer: (1) Courage (2) Confidence (3) Contentment. As a result of being content, the mature believer equates the following: (1) time and eternity (2) adversity and prosperity (3) living and dying. This contentment produced by faith and obedience to the gospel is the production of the Holy Spirit. It is produced by the Holy Spirit when the believer applies the Word of God, which is the mind of Christ. This contentment is not denying that one has no needs but rather it is content because one is confident that God will provide for those needs or the necessities of life as promised in the Word of God (Mt. 6:25-34). The Stoics would deny having needs in order to attain to a state of contentment but Paul is not denying that believers have needs but rather they are to trust in God to fulfill those needs when He sees fit. God wants all His children to come to a place where there happiness and contentment is not based upon people and circumstances but rather based upon the divine perspective or viewpoint, which is acquired through the application of the Word of God. He wants their contentment and happiness based upon who they are in Christ and what He has provided for them through their union and identification with Christ. This word is directly related to the adjective autarkes, which means contentment and appears in Philippians 4:11. Philippians 4:10 Now, I rejoiced greatly because of the Lord that now at last all of you have revived your consideration for me. In fact, before all of you were always considerate but all of you were always lacking an opportunity. 11 Not that I ever speak because of want since I have learned for myself through the application of doctrine to experience how to be in a habitual state of contentment in whatever present circumstance. 12 I have experienced not only poverty but also I have experienced prosperity. By means of every circumstance and by means of all kinds of situations I am intimately acquainted with not only satiation, but also starvation, not only prosperity, but also destitution. I possess the power to overcome all kinds of situations by means of the one whose doctrine empowers me. (My translation) In this passage, Paul reveals to the Philippians that he was content in whatever circumstances he finds himself, whether adversity or prosperity. He reveals here with this word that he is not a slave to circumstances since his happiness and contentment is not based upon prosperity, therefore, adversity does dictate his attitude. He is saying that he is satisfied in whatever circumstances that he finds himself, whether prosperous or adverse circumstances. He is satisfied with what he has because of the relationship and fellowship he has on a day by day, moment by moment basis with the Trinity. This relationship and fellowship is based upon the application of the Word of God. Unlike the Stoics who use this word, Paul s contentment is based upon the absolute truth of the 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 Word of God and not the lies from the cosmic system of Satan that Stoicism is based upon. He does not rely upon himself but rather he relies upon God and specifically, the Word of God. Paul has the divine perspective of circumstances which he acquired through the application of the Word of God. His happiness is independent of circumstances and people because he is dependent upon God and specifically, the Word of God. This does not imply that he does not need the body of Christ, but rather it indicates that his happiness is not dictated by whether people are nice to him or not. Meta The noun autarkeia is the object of the preposition meta, which functions as a marker of a relation in which one thing is combined with another (Louw and Nida, ). Here it denotes that combined with contentment, godliness is a means of superior gain. Therefore, we will translate the preposition combined with. Translation of 1 Timothy 6:6 1 Timothy 6:6 However, combined with contentment, godliness is, as an eternal spiritual truth a means of superior gain. (My translation) Summary of 1 Timothy 6:6 This verse is presenting a spiritual axiom. It stands in contrast with Paul s statement in verse 5b, in which he describes these apostate pastors in Ephesus as those who are presuming a religious form of godliness is a means of gaining wealth. Here in verse 6, Paul teaches that godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. Therefore, the contrast is between the presumption of a religious or counterfeit form of godliness being a means of gaining financial wealth with that of the true or authentic form of godliness being a means of great gain spiritually when accompanied by contentment. Authentic eusebeia, godliness, i.e. authentic Christianity finds total sufficiency in the promises of God s Word rather than in material possessions or financial wealth. It is Christ-sufficiency rather than self-sufficiency, which was the attitude of the apostate pastors in Ephesus. Authentic eusebeia, godliness finds its sufficiency in one s union and identification with Jesus Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session. This serves as a rebuke today to those teaching the prosperity gospel throughout America and around the world whose teaching is being propagated through Christian television and the internet William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 So Paul is teaching in verses 5b and 6 that those apostate pastors-teachers who were teaching false doctrine in Ephesus were not content with food and clothing, which are the essentials of life (cf. 1 Timothy 6:7-8). Consequently, they pursued financial wealth and acquiring material possessions. This was the direct result of possessing a distorted view of Christianity. Therefore, in 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul teaches that godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment, which stands in contrast to the attitude of those apostate pastors who were teaching false doctrine who regarded godliness as a means of gaining financial wealth. Godliness is the noun eusebeia, which refers to the Christian way of life, which is experiencing eternal life by appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. It refers to conduct that honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will. It also denotes that this conduct honors God because it is in obedience to His commands and prohibitions and is empowered by His Spirit. This conduct expresses one s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him. Therefore, the noun eusebeia means the way of godliness or godly living and denotes an attitude and resultant conduct that honors God and is an act of worshipping Him. This attitude and resultant conduct honors God and is an act of worshipping because it is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit and is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, will, and ways. It is based upon faith in His Word resulting in obedience to His commands and prohibitions by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the worship of God through one s conduct that is based upon knowledge of and faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to God s Word, which reveals His character, ways and will. A means of gain is the noun porismos, which is connected to the spiritual dimension in contrast to how it was used in verse 5 where it was used with regards to temporal wealth. This is indicated by the prepositional phrase µετὰ αὐταρκείας, accompanied by contentment and the adjective megas, great which indicate that eusebeia, godliness and porismos, a means of gain in verse 6 are connected to the spiritual realm and are thus superior to the eusebeia, godliness and porismos, a means of gain that appear in verse 5. Godliness is a means of great gain in a spiritual sense when accompanied by contentment. The great gain is acquiring the attitude and perspective that one s union and identification with Christ in His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and session is a great gain to one personally in that one s happiness is not dictated by one s circumstances. The great gain spiritually is resting in one s position in Christ which is eternal rather than trusting in your possessions, which are transitory. It is being defined by who you are in Christ rather than what you possess or your circumstances in life. The great gain is not being affected emotionally by 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18