1Ti 6:2-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Tim 6:2-21: 6:2b-21 The last major section of the letter returns to the need for Timothy to confront the false teachers. The whole section has a similar structure to 1:3-20 . Summary for 1Tim 6:2-10: 6:2b-10 This paragraph exposes the false teachers’ desire to become wealthy .

Summary for 1Tim 6:2-21: 6:2b-21 ^a The last major section of the letter returns to the need for Timothy to confront the false teachers. The whole section has a similar structure to 1:3-20 ^b.
Summary for 1Tim 6:2-10: 6:2b-10 ^c This paragraph exposes the false teachers’ desire to become wealthy.
6:4 ^d This stirs up arguments: This is the same problem as in 1:4 ^e (see also 2 Tim 2:23-24 ^f; Titus 3:9 ^g).
6:5 ^h have turned their backs on the truth: Literally having been robbed of the truth; see 2 Tim 2:18 ⁱ; 3:7 ^j, 8 ^k; 4:4 ^l; Titus 1:14 ^m.

• a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy (see 1 Tim 2:2 ⁿ; 3:8 ^o; 4:8 ^p; 6:3 ^q; see also 2 Tim 3:2 ^r; Acts 8:9-25 ^s): Just how these false teachers thought they would profit is not clear. In the wider culture there were many itinerant teachers who taught for pay. Abuse was common and often deserved the accusation that someone’s teaching was for “gain and glory.” Perhaps the false teachers of 1 Timothy were bringing this practice into the church or espousing some version of a prosperity gospel. They appear to have had an influence on wealthy believers (1 Tim 6:17-19 ^t), and possibly on women in particular (2:9 ^u; 5:6 ^v).
6:6 ^w with contentment: This is not just a philosophical outlook but real dependence on the sufficiency of Christ. See 4:8 ^x; 2 Cor 9:8 ^y; 12:7-10 ^z; Phil 4:10-13 ^aa; Heb 13:5 ^ab.