1 Timothy 6 · Verse 6

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6, King James Version

1 Timothy 6:6 in other translations

BSBOf course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
WEBBut godliness with contentment is great gain.
ASVBut godliness with contentment is great gain:
YLTbut it is great gain--the piety with contentment;
DARBYBut piety with contentment is great gain.
BBEBut true faith, with peace of mind, is of great profit:
WebsterBut godliness with contentment is great gain.

What does 1 Timothy 6:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. But--Though they err in this, there is a sense in which "piety is" not merely gain, but "great means of gain": not the gaining which they pursue, and which makes men to be discontented with their present possessions, and to use religion as "a cloak of covetousness" (1Th 2:5) and means of earthly gain, but the present and eternal gain which piety, whose accompaniment is contentment, secures to the soul. Wiesinger remarks that Paul observed in Timothy a tendency to indolence and shrinking from the conflict, whence he felt (1Ti 6:11) that Timothy needed cautioning against such temptation; compare also the second Epistle. Not merely contentment is great gain (a sentiment of the heathen Cicero [Paradox 6], "the greatest and surest riches"), but "piety with contentment"; for piety not only feels no need of what it has not, but also has that which exalts it above what it has not [Wiesinger]. The Greek for contentment is translated "sufficiency" (2Co 9:8). But the adjective (Php 4:11) "content"; literally, "having a sufficiency in one's self" independent of others. "The Lord always supplies His people with what is necessary for them. True happiness lies in piety, but this sufficiency [supplied by God, with which moreover His people are content] is thrown into the scale as a kind of overweight" [Calvin] (1Ki 17:1-16; Psa 37:19; Is 33:6, 16; Jr 37:21).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. But godliness. Piety; religion. The meaning is, that real religion should be regarded as the greatest and most valuable acquisition.

With contentment. This word, as now used, refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; a freedom from murmuring and complaining. The idea is, that "piety, connected with a contented mind--or a mind acquiescing in the allotments of life--is to be regarded as the real gain." Tindal gives substantially the same interpretation: "Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath." Coverdale,--" Howbeit, it is of great advantage, who is so godly, and holdeth him content with that he hath." The word which is used here--αυταρκεια --means, properly, self-sufficiency, and is used here, in a good sense, to denote a mind satisfied with its lot. If there be true religion, united with its proper accompaniment, peace of mind, it is to be regarded as the true riches. The object of the apostle seems to be, to rebuke those who supposed that property constituted everything that was worth living for. He tells them, therefore, that the true gain, the real riches which we ought to seek, is religion, with a contented mind. This does more to promote happiness than wealth can ever do, and this is what should be regarded as the great object of life.

(a) "godliness with contentment" Prov 15:16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain - The word godliness, ευσεβεια, here, and in several other places of this epistle, signifies the true religion, Christianity; and the word contentment, αυταρκεια, signifies a competency, a sufficiency; that measure or portion of secular things which is necessary for the support of life, while the great work of regeneration is carrying on in the soul. Not what this or the other person may deem a competency, but what is necessary for the mere purposes of life in reference to another world; food, raiment, and lodging. See 1Tim 6:7. So, if a man have the life of God in his soul, and just a sufficiency of food and raiment to preserve and not burden life, he has what God calls great gain, an abundant portion. It requires but little of this world's goods to satisfy a man who feels himself to be a citizen of another country, and knows that this is not his rest.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content. We see here the evil of covetousness. It is not said, they that are rich, but they will be rich; who place their happiness in wealth, and are eager and determined in the pursuit. Those that are such, give to Satan the opportunity of tempting them, leading them to use dishonest means, and other bad practices, to add to their gains. Also, leading into so many employments, and such a hurry of business, as leave no time or inclination for spiritual religion; leading to connexions that draw into sin and folly. What sins will not men be drawn into by the love of money! People may have money, and yet not love it; but if they love it, this will push them on to all evil. Every sort of wickedness and vice, in one way or another, grows from the love of money. We cannot look around without perceiving many proofs of this, especially in a day of outward prosperity, great expenses, and loose profession.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Timothy 6:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἜστινEstinIsG1510
δὲdehoweverG1161
πορισμὸςporismosgainG4200
μέγαςmegasgreatG3173
ἡhē<the>G3588
εὐσέβειαeusebeiagodlinessG2150
μετὰmetawithG3326
αὐταρκείας.autarkeiascontentment.G841

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Timothy 6:6

  • Hebrews 13:5

    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

  • 1 Timothy 6:8

    And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

  • Philippians 4:11-13

    Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • Proverbs 16:8

    Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

  • Luke 12:31-32

    But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

  • Proverbs 15:16

    Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

  • Philippians 1:21

    For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

  • 1 Timothy 4:8

    For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

  • Matthew 6:32-33

    (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • Psalms 37:16

    A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

  • Psalms 84:11

    For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

  • Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
godliness.
4:8; Ps 37:16; 84:11; Pr 3:13-18; 8:18-21; 15:16; 16:8; Mt 6:32,33
Lu 12:31,32; Ro 5:3-5; 8:28; 2Co 4:17,18; 5:1; Php 1:21; Heb 13:5
contentment.
8; Ex 2:21; Lu 3:14; Php 4:11-13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Timothy 6:5

    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

  • 1 Timothy 6:6

    But godliness with contentment is great gain.

  • 1 Timothy 6:7

    For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Read all of 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero grande granjería es la piedad con contentamiento.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or la piété avec le contentement est un grand gain.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Gottseligkeit aber mit Genügsamkeit ist ein großer Gewinn;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Est autem quæstus magnus pietas cum sufficientia.