1 Timothy 5:6 kjv
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1 Timothy 5:6 nkjv
But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
1 Timothy 5:6 niv
But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
1 Timothy 5:6 esv
but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.
1 Timothy 5:6 nlt
But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives.
1 Timothy 5 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 5:6 | "she who gives herself to pleasure is…dead even while she lives." | (Direct match) |
| Luke 12:16-21 | Parable of the rich fool focused on possessions, not eternal life. | (Living for material gain) |
| Luke 16:19-31 | Parable of the rich man and Lazarus; worldly pleasure leads to torment. | (Consequences of luxury) |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | Describes lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God in the last days. | (Characteristic of apostasy) |
| Rom 8:6 | "To be carnally minded is death…" | (Mindset leading to death) |
| James 4:4 | "friendship with the world is enmity with God." | (Worldly alliances) |
| 1 John 2:15-17 | "Do not love the world or the things in the world…" | (Warning against worldly love) |
| Phil 3:18-19 | Believers whose minds are set on earthly things are enemies of the cross. | (Earthly vs. heavenly focus) |
| Gal 5:17 | "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit…" | (Conflict between flesh/Spirit) |
| Titus 1:16 | Profess to know God but deny Him by their works. | (Professing vs. true faith) |
| Ps 73:18-20 | Enemies of God are led into slippery places and destruction. | (Judgment on the wicked) |
| Prov 14:13 | Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief. | (Superficial joy) |
| Matt 6:24 | Cannot serve both God and money. | (Conflicting masters) |
| 1 Cor 6:13 | "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods…" God will destroy both. | (Gluttony and its end) |
| Jude 1:4 | Turn God’s grace into a license for debauchery. | (Abuse of grace) |
| Rev 3:1 | Known as alive, but are dead. | (Spiritual death of a church) |
| Eph 2:1 | Aliens and sinners, dead in trespasses and sins. | (State of unsaved humanity) |
| Prov 21:17 | "He who loves pleasure will become a poor man." | (Consequence of pleasure) |
| Ps 39:6 | Man heaps up wealth, not knowing who will gather it. | (Vanity of worldly pursuit) |
| 1 Pet 4:3 | The past life in sensual lusts was sufficient. | (Former ways of living) |
1 Timothy 5 verses
1 Timothy 5 6 Meaning
A person who lives indulging in pleasures and luxuries, apart from true devotion, is spiritually dead even while alive.
1 Timothy 5 6 Context
This verse appears in 1 Timothy chapter 5, where Paul provides instructions to Timothy regarding the care and conduct of the church, particularly concerning elders, widows, and members in general. The specific focus here is on young widows, cautioning against their potential for idleness, gossip, and succumbing to worldly desires after the death of their husbands. Paul outlines criteria for those who should be cared for by the church, emphasizing genuine need and godly character.
1 Timothy 5 6 Word Analysis
- Sulalazousa (σατÂ?S-¬oUca): "gives herself to pleasure" - Present participle of sulalazo, meaning to live luxuriously, to indulge in pleasure, to revel. It describes a persistent lifestyle of seeking gratification.
- Trofes (tpó¬E?¬-S): "sustenance," "food," "nourishment." In this context, it implies a provision that is due or proper.
- Estin (Ésc¬v): "is" - The third-person singular present indicative of the verb eimi, to be. It states a fact or reality.
- Apethaniken (à´´é´`æ¬v-µ´´) : "is dead" - Perfect passive participle of apothnesko, meaning to die, to be dead. The perfect tense indicates a state of death that is a result of a past action, implying a permanent condition of spiritual lifelessness.
- Ousazeisæn (Uca�a¬fca¬¬-µa): "while she lives" - Present participle of zao, to live. It highlights the paradox of being alive physically but dead spiritually.
Group Analysis:
- Sulalazousa trofes: This phrase paints a picture of a life dedicated to obtaining and consuming "sustenance" (provision), but not in the sense of essential needs met by God's provision for the church. Instead, it's "sulalazousa" – pleasure-seeking indulgence, living lavishly and idly.
- Estin apethaniken: This juxtaposition is stark. A person engaged in a life of pleasurable indulgence is described not just as facing death, but as already being in a state of being dead. This speaks to a spiritual mortality.
- Ousazeisæn: The adverbial use of the participle emphasizes the current physical existence, creating the strong contrast with the spiritual death. It’s a profound disconnect between outward existence and inward reality.
1 Timothy 5 6 Bonus Section
This verse emphasizes the reality of spiritual death even in physical life, a theme echoed in other New Testament passages that speak of being "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1) before Christ's regeneration. It highlights the crucial difference between outward religious activity and the internal spiritual state. The potential for young widows to fall into this state, especially after being placed under the church’s care, underscores the need for clear instruction and responsible stewardship of church resources, ensuring they are directed towards those who are truly dependent and living godly lives. The danger lies in the erosion of spiritual vitality through an unbridled pursuit of comfort and carnal desires, which ultimately leads to a disconnection from the source of true life in God.
1 Timothy 5 6 Commentary
A widow devoted to sensuous indulgence and luxurious living, despite receiving support from the church, is spiritually lifeless. Her focus on transient pleasures alienates her from the true vitality that comes from living according to God’s will. This condition signifies a spiritual death, an emptiness that physical life cannot fill.
- Practical Application: Ensure that any support provided by the church is received with gratitude and used for genuine needs, rather than fueling a lifestyle of frivolous pleasure or idleness. Those who claim Christian commitment must exhibit a life reflecting Christ's character, not one characterized by self-indulgence.