Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:17 - 6:21
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Final Admonitions and Conclusion. 1Ti_6:17-21
v. 17. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
v. 18. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
v. 19. laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
v. 20. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called;
v. 21. which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee! Amen.
The admonition which Timothy is to address to the rich people of the world is by no means a mere postscript, but shows the application of the doctrinal exposition in the early part of this chapter. Of the desire to get rich quickly and its dangerous consequences the apostle had treated; to the rich themselves he says: Those that are rich in this present world-period charge not to be proud-minded, not to have their hope rest on the uncertainty of riches, but upon the living God, who offers everything to us richly for enjoyment. St. Paul speaks of the rich in this present period of the world, of men that are wealthy in the goods pertaining to this temporal life. These goods are for the moment only, they are transitory, they are vain. For that reason the wealthy people should not be supercilious, proud-minded, a vice to which they are peculiarly addicted. In reality, they have nothing to be proud of, for their possessions arc merely entrusted to them by God for a season, and they are transitory and evanescent. How foolish for them to indulge in sinful pride! Another thought brought out by the apostle is this, that the wealthy should not rest their hope on the uncertainty of their wealth. The riches of this present world are an uncertain quantity, subject to rapid change, gained today, lost tomorrow. To place one's hope and confidence in wealth is to place it on an uncertain, deceitful foundation. Instead, the rich people should let their hope rest in God, who is not a dead idol like the money which these people adore, but is the living God, the God and Fountain of life. He it is that offers and provides us with all that we need in this life, and in rich measure at that. As a rule, we receive far more than we actually and absolutely need and can use; we are able not only to satisfy our immediate wants, but also to enjoy the gifts of God in quantities above our actual needs. How foolish, then, for men to put their trust in riches!
Instead of this the apostle admonishes that the rich of this world prove themselves faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to their care: TO do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal, ready to share, laying down for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may take hold on the real life. The apostle uses synonymous expressions in order to emphasize his point. The rich people, as stewards of God's gifts to them, should be ready with the proper conduct toward men in all circumstances of life. They will therefore excel, be especially rich, in good works which map be done with the aid of money and earthly goods: that is a wealth which far surpasses that of mere money. They should be liberal, generous, where the need is shown to exist; they should be cheerfully willing to be of service to their neighbor at all times In this way they will gather for themselves true treasures, such as have a lasting value, beyond the transitoriness of this present age and world, Luk_16:9; Luk_6:35; Pro_19:17. Every gift that comes from a heart full of true love, all assistance that flows from real interest in our neighbor's welfare, is a jewel in the eyes of God. He, therefore, that has many deeds of true kindness to his credit will have a large treasure standing in his name. a capital bearing interest in the best sense of the word. On the Great Day, when the Lord will render to every man his account, He mill pay interest of mercy to him that was rich in good works, and he will be able to lay hold on eternal life. 11-hat an inducement to us to trust in Him as our faithful and gracious God, to fear, lore, and trust in Him, to show Him our gratitude by never forgetting or forsaking our neighbor in any case of real want!
The apostle cannot close without addressing a most urgent and cordial call to his pupil: O Timothy, guard what is entrusted to thee, strictly avoiding profane and vain disputations and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. Timothy had been entrusted with the precious gift of the Gospel and its pure proclamation; he had, indeed, been charged to preach it in its full power and purity. As a faithful guardian he should now watch over this treasure lest it become contaminated in the interest of false unionism or weak compliance with liberalism. To do this, Timothy was to avoid the profane and senseless disputings and babblings of which Paul had spoken in the body of his letter, chap. 1:4; 4:7. Such empty word-quarrels and vain talk as that which was indulged in by the false teachers invariably degrades the truth of salvation and profanes the holy name of God and Christ. And in this case they were not satisfied with such an attitude, but actually had the temerity to come out with contradictions of the truth. These stilted arguments and the system based upon them they called true knowledge. But it was not even a good imitation; it was abominable philosophy, without proper understanding and discrimination. In the case of such people the apostle's advice teaches the only correct attitude, namely, that of aloofness; the best plan is to ignore them entirely. State the truth of Scriptures briefly, succinctly, clearly, and do not begin to argue a philosophy falsely so-called.
How necessary such a warning is at all times appears from the apostle's remark: Which some professing have gone astray concerning the faith. There is always danger that shallow natures may be influenced by the show of wisdom presented by teachers of the class described by the apostle. Some there are to whom the soundness of the old catechism-truths does not appeal, who have ears itching for something new all the time. But it is dangerous to listen to the arguments of the errorists, to heed their plausible speculations. A person indulging in this pastime will quickly find himself on the way to eternal damnation. The faith that saves clings entirely and alone to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and to His redemption. All other understanding in the field of religion is secondary and, if combined with human speculations, dangerous.
Paul's final greeting to Timothy and also to the congregation in his charge was: Grace with you! If the grace, the unmerited favor of God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, is in and with the Christians, then they are in need of no other spiritual gift; for this grace assures them of the fullness of heavenly bliss and glory, world without end. Amen.
Summary
The apostle gives rules of conduct for slaves, warns against covetousness, and shows the advantages of contentment, urges Timothy to give a good account of himself as a soldier of Christ, includes a charge to the rich, and closes with a final admonition to firmness and a personal greeting.