1 Timothy 6 17

1 Timothy 6:17 kjv

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

1 Timothy 6:17 nkjv

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17 niv

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17 esv

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17 nlt

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 17 Meaning

This verse instructs those who possess significant material wealth in the present earthly life not to succumb to pride or to place their security in the fleeting and unpredictable nature of riches. Instead, it directs them to anchor their hope and trust firmly in God, who is eternally living, actively benevolent, and generously provides all things in abundance for humanity to genuinely enjoy.

1 Timothy 6 17 Context

First Timothy is a pastoral epistle written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, his protégé and a leader in the church at Ephesus. Chapter 6 specifically addresses various practical issues relevant to church life, particularly the temptations and pitfalls associated with money and material possessions. Paul has just warned against "the love of money" as the "root of all evil" (v. 10) and the dangerous pursuit of wealth. Verse 17 pivots from warning against desiring wealth to providing specific, authoritative instructions for those who are already rich in the Christian community. Ephesus was a prosperous city, a major trading hub, making this instruction directly relevant to its wealthy residents within the church. Historically, in the Greco-Roman world, wealth often brought social status, power, and presumed security. This verse directly challenges that cultural assumption by asserting God as the sole true source of security and genuine provision.

1 Timothy 6 17 Word analysis

• Charge (παραγγέλλω, paraggellō): This is a strong command or instruction, often military in tone, indicating an authoritative order. It highlights the seriousness and non-negotiable nature of the exhortation Timothy is to convey to the rich. It is not merely advice but a divine injunction.
• Them that are rich (πλουσίους, plousious): Refers to individuals who possess abundant material resources. The context implies believers who are wealthy, not wealth itself, but the person holding the wealth.
• In this world (ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, en tō nun aiōni): Specifies that this wealth is bound by the current earthly age, emphasizing its temporary nature and limitation, in contrast to eternal realities.
• Highminded (ὑψηλοφρονεῖν, hupsēlophronein): To think highly of oneself, to be proud or arrogant, especially in a social or class-conscious way stemming from one's possessions or status. It describes an elevated and condescending mental attitude.
• Nor trust (μηδὲ ἐλπίζειν, mēde elpizein): The negative particle here means "and not," providing a second, equally important prohibition. To elpizein means to place one's hope, confidence, or security in something with an expectation of its reliability.
• Uncertain (ἀδηλότητι, adēlotēti): From adēlos, meaning unclear, unstable, imperceptible, or fleeting. This word emphatically underlines the inherent unreliability and transience of material possessions, which can be lost quickly.
• Riches (πλούτου, ploutou): Wealth, abundance. Here, explicitly stated to be uncertain, creating a stark contrast with the dependable nature of God.
• But in (ἀλλ' ἐν, all' en): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a decisive redirection of trust—from a false object to the true one.
• The living God (Θεῷ ζῶντι, Theō zōnti): This phrase stands in absolute opposition to "uncertain riches." "Living" emphasizes God's active, dynamic, present, and unchanging nature, contrasting with dead idols or inanimate, unpredictable wealth. He is the ultimate, constant source of all life and provision.
• Who giveth us richly (τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πλουσίως, tō parechonti hēmin plousiōs): God is characterized by extreme generosity, supplying things with a superabundance. Parechonti implies furnishing, providing.
• All things (πάντα, panta): Denotes comprehensive provision; nothing is outside God's giving.
• To enjoy (εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν, eis apolausin): This refers to delight, pleasure, or satisfaction derived from something. It signifies that God's generosity is not merely for subsistence but for the true and benevolent enjoyment of His gifts, contrasting with both greedy hoarding and ascetic denial.

• Charge them that are rich in this world: This phrase specifies the target audience – those already wealthy – and implicitly defines their sphere of influence and temptation as being limited to this transient life, distinct from the eternal realm.
• That they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches: These are two critical prohibitions. "Highminded" speaks to the internal attitude of pride and arrogance often bred by wealth, while "trust in uncertain riches" addresses the external action of placing one's ultimate security in something inherently unreliable. They are two sides of the same spiritual danger.
• But in the living God: This is the divine alternative and the proper redirection of faith and security. The emphasis on "living" God reinforces His active involvement and His complete reliability as opposed to inert, unpredictable wealth.
• Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: This clause provides the compelling theological reason for trusting God over wealth. God is not only trustworthy but also boundlessly generous, supplying every good thing not just for existence but for genuine delight and fulfillment. This refutes any idea of God being stingy or wishing His people to live in destitution, and it counteracts both greedy accumulation and ascetic withdrawal.

1 Timothy 6 17 Bonus section

The strong command "charge them" highlights that dealing with issues of wealth within the church requires direct and clear pastoral instruction, which might have been uncomfortable for Timothy. The passage also implicitly challenges worldly values that equate success and security solely with material possessions. The phrase "all things to enjoy" indicates God's benevolent character and disavows extreme asceticism, where all pleasure is deemed sinful. It affirms that material blessings can be appreciated and used appropriately as gifts from a loving Creator, rather than something inherently evil. This instruction provides a healthy theological balance: warning against the dangers of covetousness and misplacing trust, while affirming God's desire for His children to experience the good of His creation within the bounds of godliness.

1 Timothy 6 17 Commentary

This verse offers profound instruction to believers who are financially prosperous. It's not a condemnation of wealth itself, but a strong warning against the spiritual traps that often accompany it. The primary dangers identified are pride ("highminded") and misplaced security ("trust in uncertain riches"). Wealth has a seductive power to inflate one's self-importance and create a false sense of control and independence from God. Paul emphasizes the ephemeral and unpredictable nature of earthly riches, contrasting them sharply with the steadfast reliability of "the living God." God, as the true and eternal provider, not only supplies our needs but bestows all good things generously for our genuine enjoyment. This command calls for humility, redirection of faith, and an understanding that all material blessings are ultimately from God's hand, to be stewarded wisely rather than hoarded or relied upon for ultimate security. For the rich believer, this means cultivating a generous spirit and using wealth to honor God and bless others, rather than letting it become a source of arrogance or an idol of security. For example, instead of accumulating more assets for personal comfort, a wealthy believer might invest in Kingdom work or support those in need, finding true enjoyment in generosity as God enjoys giving.