1Ti 6:9 | JFB | STEP | 9. will be rich-- have more than "food and raiment." Greek, "wish to be rich"; not merely are willing, but are resolved, and earnestly desire to have riches at any cost ( , ). This wishing (not the riches themselves) is fatal to "contentment" ( ). Rich men are not told to cast away their riches, but not to "trust" in them, and to "do good" with them ( , ; ). fall into temptation-- not merely "are exposed to temptation," but actually "fall into" it. The falling into it is what we are to pray against, "Lead us not into temptation" ( ); such a one is already in a sinful state, even before any overt act of sin. The Greek for "temptation" and "gain" contains a play on sounds--porasmus, peirasmus. snare-- a further step downwards ( ). He falls into "the snare of the devil." foolish-- irrational. hurtful-- to those who fall into the snare. Compare , "deceitful lusts" which deceive to one's deadly hurt. lusts-- With the one evil lust ("wish to be rich") many others join themselves: the one is the "root of all evils" ( ). which-- Greek, "whatever (lusts)." drown-- an awful descending climax from "fall into"; this is the last step in the terrible descent ( ); translated "sink," . destruction ... perdition-- destruction in general (temporal or eternal), and perdition in particular, namely, that of body and soul in hell.

‏ 1 Timothy 6:9

9. will be rich--have more than "food and raiment." Greek, "wish to be rich"; not merely are willing, but are resolved, and earnestly desire to have riches at any cost (Pr 28:20, 22). This wishing (not the riches themselves) is fatal to "contentment" (1Ti 6:6). Rich men are not told to cast away their riches, but not to "trust" in them, and to "do good" with them (1Ti 6:17, 18; Psa 62:10).

fall into temptation--not merely "are exposed to temptation," but actually "fall into" it. The falling into it is what we are to pray against, "Lead us not into temptation" (Jas 1:14); such a one is already in a sinful state, even before any overt act of sin. The Greek for "temptation" and "gain" contains a play on sounds--porasmus, peirasmus.

snare--a further step downwards (1Ti 3:7). He falls into "the snare of the devil."

foolish--irrational.

hurtful--to those who fall into the snare. Compare Ep 4:22, "deceitful lusts" which deceive to one's deadly hurt.

lusts--With the one evil lust ("wish to be rich") many others join themselves: the one is the "root of all evils" (1Ti 6:10).

which--Greek, "whatever (lusts)."

drown--an awful descending climax from "fall into"; this is the last step in the terrible descent (Jas 1:15); translated "sink," Lu 5:7.

destruction ... perdition--destruction in general (temporal or eternal), and perdition in particular, namely, that of body and soul in hell.