1 Timothy 6 Study Notes
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6:1-2 The chief motive for service, even for a person who is a slave, is love (cp. Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25; Ti 2:9-10; 1Pt 2:18-20).
6:3-5 This is the third time in the letter that Paul deals with false teachers (1:3-11; 4:1-5). Paul considered his teaching to be in accord with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6:6-8 The opposite of greed is contentment, which means being satisfied with food and clothing.
6:9-10 What is condemned here is harmful desires, not the possession of things. The warning is not simply that love of money can be harmful, but that this craving has led some people to deny the faith and show themselves to be unbelievers.
6:11-12 Fleeing sin is paired with chasing down virtue. The picture is of a vigorous pursuit of virtue. This corresponds to the call to fight the good fight of the faith and to take hold of eternal life.
6:13 The appearance of Pontius Pilate here may seem odd. He appears as a backdrop for Jesus’s good confession, which is the model for the “good confession” of believers (v. 12).
6:14-16 Paul encourages Timothy to pursue his ministry in light of the glory of God. He is the only Sovereign. He rules over all kings and accomplishes all his purposes. He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. The opposition Timothy faces in his ministry is small and weak by comparison.
epiphaneia
| Greek Pronunciation | [epih FAH nay ah] |
| CSB translation | appearing |
| Uses in 1 Timothy | 1 |
| Uses in the NT | 6 |
| Focus passage | 1 Timothy 6:14 |
Outside of the NT, the term epiphaneia (appearing, manifestation) was often used as a religious technical term to denote the visible manifestation of a deity. This divine manifestation occurred either in the form of a personal appearance or by some work of power. Within the NT, epiphaneia appears exclusively in Paul’s letters. Paul employs this religious technical sense of the word to refer to the appearing or manifestation of Jesus Christ. This appearing of Jesus can refer to his first coming to earth (2Tm 1:10). More frequently, however, Paul refers to the second appearing of Jesus, at which time he will come to destroy the antichrist and dispense righteous judgment (2Th 2:8; 2Tm 4:1,8). It is this second appearing of the Lord Jesus that is the “blessed hope” of the believer (Ti 2:13).
6:17-19 Those who are rich have a tendency to be arrogant and must guard against it. They are also prone to put their hope in their wealth rather than in Christ. Real life consists in doing what is good and being generous.
6:20-21 The phrase what has been entrusted to you refers to the gospel. What is falsely called knowledge refers to the false teaching addressed elsewhere in the letter.