1 Timothy 6 21

1 Timothy 6:21 kjv

Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:21 nkjv

by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:21 niv

which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.

1 Timothy 6:21 esv

for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

1 Timothy 6:21 nlt

Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 21 Meaning

This concluding verse of 1 Timothy chapter 6 serves as a final, crucial warning from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, emphasizing the severe consequences for those who deviate from Christian truth. It highlights that certain individuals, by publicly advocating for or claiming a "knowledge" (specifically referenced in the preceding verse as "falsely called knowledge"), have "missed the mark" or "gone astray" concerning the objective Christian faith—the revealed body of divine truth and sound doctrine. The verse then concludes with a common Pauline benediction, invoking God's unmerited favor upon Timothy (and implicitly, the Ephesian church) to navigate the dangers of false teaching.

1 Timothy 6 21 Context

1 Timothy 6:21 concludes a significant passage (6:20-21) and the entire epistle of 1 Timothy. The immediate context, 1 Timothy 6:20, is crucial as Paul charges Timothy to "guard the deposit entrusted to you, avoiding the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge." This "falsely called knowledge" (Greek: pseudōnymon gnōsin) directly links to those "professing" it in verse 21.

The broader context of 1 Timothy is a pastoral letter written by Paul to his younger protégé, Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. A major concern throughout the letter is the combating of false teachings and doctrines that had infiltrated the church. These errors often revolved around a distorted form of "knowledge" (proto-Gnostic tendencies, stressing secret wisdom, genealogies, or ascetic practices), disputes about the law, and greed masquerading as godliness. Paul repeatedly warns against divisive disputations (1 Tim 6:3-5) and ungodly myths. Thus, 1 Timothy 6:21 serves as a concluding warning about the spiritual dangers of such deceptive teachings, reinforcing the need for Timothy to maintain and uphold the genuine Christian faith.

1 Timothy 6 21 Word analysis

• which (ἣν - hēn): This feminine singular relative pronoun directly refers back to the "knowledge falsely so called" (pseudōnymon gnōsin) from 1 Timothy 6:20. It connects the error of some with their advocacy of this deceptive philosophy.
• some (τινὲς - tines): Indefinite pronoun, meaning "certain ones," "some people." Paul doesn't name them here, but they were clearly identifiable within the Ephesian context as specific individuals who had gone astray, indicating the problem was real and significant.
• professing (φασκοντες - phaskontes): Present active participle, meaning "claiming," "asserting," "alleging," "avowing." It indicates an open, active declaration or teaching. These individuals weren't just quietly believing error; they were actively promoting this false "knowledge." This highlights their responsibility for their deviation and the public nature of their error.
• have erred / have swerved (ἀστοχήσαντες - astochēsantes): Aorist active participle, meaning "having missed the mark," "having gone astray," "having failed." This Greek term is often used in archery, implying aiming for a target but failing to hit it. Here, the "mark" is the truth of the gospel. It implies a conscious departure from the truth, rather than simple ignorance. They knew the target (the faith) but deliberately shot in the wrong direction or ceased aiming correctly.
• concerning the faith (περὶ τὴν πίστιν - peri tēn pistin): "Concerning" (περὶ) signifies the sphere or object of their error. "The faith" (τὴν πίστιν) here refers to the objective body of Christian truth, doctrine, and teaching, often called "the faith once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). It is not primarily referring to personal trust (subjective faith) but the established creed or content of belief. Their error directly attacked the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
• Grace be with thee / Grace be with you (Ἡ χάρις μεθ’ ὑμῶν/σου - Hē charis meth' hymōn/sou): "Grace" (charis) signifies God's unmerited favor and divine enabling power. It is a standard, often concluding, Pauline benediction found at the close of nearly all his letters. While some manuscripts have the singular "thee" (sou) suggesting it's for Timothy specifically, many significant manuscripts have the plural "you" (hymōn), indicating it's for the entire Ephesian congregation. It implies a recognition that for Timothy (or the church) to guard the faith and resist error, divine grace is absolutely essential.
• Amen (Ἀμήν - Amēn): A transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning "truly," "so be it," "let it be done." It functions as an affirmation, signifying agreement, confirmation, or the solemn conclusion of a prayer or statement. Here, it seals Paul's final admonition and benediction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "which some professing": This phrase pinpoints the origin of the error. The problem isn't theoretical; it's linked to specific individuals who are actively making public declarations based on false assumptions (the "falsely called knowledge" from v. 20). Their public "professing" made their error a public danger to the church.
• "have erred concerning the faith": This describes the consequence of their active "professing" of false knowledge. Their deviation is not minor; it’s a direct missing of the central, objective truths of Christianity. It signifies apostasy or a serious doctrinal departure that corrupts the very essence of belief. The "faith" as the foundational truth cannot accommodate such "error."
• "Grace be with thee/you. Amen.": This concluding salutation powerfully juxtaposes the danger of error with the divine provision for steadfastness. In light of the challenges posed by false teaching, Paul's prayer for grace emphasizes that the strength to guard the truth and avoid spiritual shipwreck comes from God's favor, not human wisdom or effort. The "Amen" firmly seals this final charge and blessing.

1 Timothy 6 21 Bonus section

The error described in 1 Tim 6:21 highlights that sometimes those who go astray are not outwardly wicked, but people who claim a superior form of spiritual understanding. Their problem is not necessarily immoral conduct (though false teaching often leads to it), but rather an intellectual and spiritual perversion of the truth under the guise of "knowledge" (gnosis). This early form of intellectual pride presented a unique and insidious threat to the church, differing from gross immorality or obvious paganism. It underscores the perpetual need for believers to critically evaluate ideas, even those presented under spiritual guises, against the unchanging standard of biblical revelation, lest they too "swerve from the faith." The grace invoked at the end is not only for strength but also for discernment, equipping believers to rightly divide truth from error.

1 Timothy 6 21 Commentary

1 Timothy 6:21 serves as a stark final warning in an epistle largely dedicated to addressing doctrinal purity and spiritual leadership. The "falsely called knowledge" from the preceding verse is identified as the very thing some are professing, leading them to tragically "miss the mark" concerning "the faith." This "missing the mark" is not mere ignorance but an active departure, a deviation from the established, objective truth of Christ. It underscores that engaging with and promoting such erroneous philosophies inevitably pulls individuals away from true biblical doctrine.

The seriousness of this error is emphasized by its impact on "the faith"—the whole system of Christian belief delivered by God. Paul's concern is not trivial; false teaching threatens the very foundation of salvation and godly living. The spiritual battle requires divine assistance, which is why Paul concludes with the common Pauline benediction of "Grace be with you." This is not a casual farewell but a powerful invocation of God's unmerited favor as the sole source of strength for Timothy, and for the church, to withstand doctrinal corruption and remain steadfast in the face of spiritual challenges. The "Amen" signifies the certainty of these truths and the fervent desire for grace to abound.