1Ti 6:6-8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 6. But godliness . Piety; religion. The meaning is, that real religion should be regarded as the greatest and most valuable acquisition. With contentment . This word, as now used, refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; a freedom from murmuring and complaining. The idea is, that "piety, connected with a contented mind--or a mind acquiescing in the allotments of life--is to be regarded as the real gain." Tindal gives substantially the same interpretation: "Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath." Coverdale,--" Howbeit, it is of great advantage, who is so godly, and holdeth him content with that he hath." The word which is used here--αυταρκεια --means, properly, self-sufficiency , and is used here, in a good sense, to denote a mind satisfied with its lot. If there be true religion, united with its proper accompaniment, peace of mind, it is to be regarded as the true riches. The object of the apostle seems to be, to rebuke those who supposed that property constituted everything that was worth living for. He tells them, therefore, that the true gain, the real riches which we ought to seek, is religion, with a contented mind. This does more to promote happiness than wealth can ever do, and this is what should be regarded as the great object of life. (a) "godliness with contentment"

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Verse 6. But godliness. Piety; religion. The meaning is, that real religion should be regarded as the greatest and most valuable acquisition.

With contentment. This word, as now used, refers to a state of mind; a calm and satisfied feeling; a freedom from murmuring and complaining. The idea is, that "piety, connected with a contented mind--or a mind acquiescing in the allotments of life--is to be regarded as the real gain." Tindal gives substantially the same interpretation: "Godliness is great riches, if a man be content with that he hath." Coverdale,--" Howbeit, it is of great advantage, who is so godly, and holdeth him content with that he hath." The word which is used here--αυταρκεια --means, properly, self-sufficiency, and is used here, in a good sense, to denote a mind satisfied with its lot. If there be true religion, united with its proper accompaniment, peace of mind, it is to be regarded as the true riches. The object of the apostle seems to be, to rebuke those who supposed that property constituted everything that was worth living for. He tells them, therefore, that the true gain, the real riches which we ought to seek, is religion, with a contented mind. This does more to promote happiness than wealth can ever do, and this is what should be regarded as the great object of life.

(a) "godliness with contentment" Prov 15:16 Verse 7. For we brought nothing into this world, etc. A sentiment very similar to this occurs in Job 1:21; and it would seem probable that the apostle had that passage in his eye. Job 1:21. Numerous expressions of this kind occur in the classic writers. See Wetstein, in loc., and Pricaeus, in loc., in the Critici Sacri. Of the truth of what is here said, there can be nothing more obvious. It is apparent to all. We bring no property with us into the world; no clothing, no jewels, no gold; and it is equally clear that we can take nothing with us when we leave the earth. Our coming into the world introduces no additional property to that which the race before possessed, and our going from the world removes none that we may have helped the race to accumulate. This is said by the apostle as an obvious reason why we should be contented if our actual wants are supplied; for this is really all that we need, and all that the world is toiling for.

We can carry nothing out. Comp. Ps 49:17. "For when he [the rich man] dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him."

(b) "it is certain" Ps 49:17 Verse 8. And having food and raiment. "Food and raiment," here, seem to be used to denote supplies for our wants in general. It is not uncommon to denote the whole by a part, and as these are the principal things which we really need, and without which life could not be sustained, the apostle uses the phrase to denote all that is really necessary for us. We cannot suppose that he would forbid a desire of a comfortable habitation, or of the means of knowledge, or of conveniences for worshipping God, etc. The idea is, that having those things which meet the actual necessities of our nature, and save us from distress, we should not strive after "uncertain riches," or make wealth the object of our anxious pursuit. Php 4:11, Php 4:12.