1 Timothy 6:18

International Standard Version

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and to share.Luke 12:21; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:5;">[xr]

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Tell those who are rich to do good—to be rich in good works. And tell them they should be happy to give and ready to share.

Revised Standard Version
They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and that they do good and be ryche in good workes and redy to geve and to distribute

Hebrew Names Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

New American Standard Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

New Century Version
Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.

Update Bible Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Webster's Bible Translation
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

English Standard Version
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

World English Bible
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

Weymouth's New Testament
They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
to do wel, to be maad riche in good werkis, liytli to yyue,

English Revised Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Berean Standard Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

Contemporary English Version
Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.

Amplified Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].

American Standard Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Bible in Basic English
And to do good, having wealth in good works, being quick to give, taking part with one another;

Complete Jewish Bible
Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.

Darby Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, disposed to communicate [of their substance],

Etheridge Translation
and that they perform good works, and become rich in welldoings, and be ready to give and to communicate,

Murdock Translation
and that they do good works, and be rich in well-doings; and be ready to give and to communicate:

King James Version (1611)
That they doe good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

New Living Translation
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

New Life Bible
Tell them to do good and be rich in good works. They should give much to those in need and be ready to share.

New Revised Standard
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,

Geneva Bible (1587)
That they doe good, and be riche in good woorkes, & readie to distribute, and comunicate,

George Lamsa Translation
That they do good works, and become rich in good deeds, and be ready to give and willing to share,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
To be doing good, to be rich in noble works, to be, generous in giving, ready for fellowship, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
To do good, to be rich in good work, to give easily, to communicate to others,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That they do good, that they be riche in good workes, that they be redye to geue, glad to distribute:

Good News Translation
Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others.

Christian Standard Bible®
Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,

King James Version
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Lexham English Bible
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely,

Literal Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to share, generous,

Young's Literal Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
That they do good: that they be rich in good workes: that they geue and distribute with a good wyll:

Mace New Testament (1729)
to be beneficent, to be rich in good works, to be liberal to the common fund,

New English Translation
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

New King James Version
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Rich folks should use their money to do good things. True riches come from doing good things, not having lots of money. Tell them to be generous to those without.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Legacy Standard Bible
Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Contextual Overview

¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, I solemnly charge youDeuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Matthew 27:11; John 5:21; 18:37; 1 Timothy 5:21; Revelation 1:5; 3:14;">[xr] ¹⁴ to keep this command stainless and blameless until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6,10; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23;">[xr] ¹⁵ At the right time Godhe">[fn] will make him known. He is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.1 Timothy 1:11,17; Revelation 17:14; 19:16;">[xr] ¹⁶ He alone has endless life and lives in inaccessible light. No one has ever seen him, nor can anyone see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him! Amen.Exodus 33:20; John 6:46; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 1:25; Revelation 1:6; 4:11; 7:12;">[xr] ¹⁷ Tell those who are rich in the present world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, let them place their confidencelet them place their confidence">[fn] in God, who lavishly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.Job 1:31:24; Psalm 52:7; 62:10; Proverbs 23:5; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:21; Acts 14:17; 17:25; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:10;">[xr] ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and to share.Luke 12:21; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:5;">[xr] ¹⁹ By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future, so that they can take hold of the life that is real.Matthew 6:20; 19:21; Luke 12:33; 16:9; 1 Timothy 6:12;">[xr] ²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge.1 Timothy 1:4,6; 4:7; 2 Timothy 1:14; Titus 1:9,14, 6; 3:9; Revelation 3:3;">[xr] ²¹ Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!with you (pl.). Other mss. read you! Amen">[fn]1 Timothy 1:6,19; 2 Timothy 2:18;">[xr]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they do: 2 Chronicles 24:16, Psalms 37:3, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Luke 6:33-35, Acts 10:38, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 13:16, 1 Peter 3:11, 3 John 1:11

rich: 1 Timothy 5:10, Luke 12:21, Acts 9:36, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, James 2:5

ready: Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Psalms 112:9, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 11:25, Ecclesiastes 11:1, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Ecclesiastes 11:6, Isaiah 32:8, Isaiah 58:7, Luke 6:35, Luke 14:12-14, Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45, Acts 4:34-37, Acts 11:29, Romans 12:8, Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Philippians 4:18, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:17

willing to communicate: or, sociable

Reciprocal: Numbers 21:18 - princes Deuteronomy 15:10 - thine heart Deuteronomy 26:11 - rejoice 1 Chronicles 29:22 - eat and drink 2 Chronicles 32:29 - God Nehemiah 3:5 - their nobles Nehemiah 8:10 - Go your way Psalms 65:9 - thou preparest Proverbs 3:28 - General Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye Proverbs 27:24 - For Matthew 5:16 - that Matthew 6:2 - when Matthew 25:16 - went Mark 14:6 - a good Luke 3:11 - He that hath two Luke 16:9 - into Luke 18:22 - sell Luke 19:8 - Behold John 5:29 - done good 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 2 Corinthians 6:10 - making 2 Corinthians 8:10 - expedient 2 Corinthians 9:11 - enriched Ephesians 2:10 - good Ephesians 4:28 - give Philippians 4:14 - ye did Hebrews 6:10 - which Hebrews 10:24 - love Revelation 2:9 - thou art Revelation 3:18 - that thou

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by it he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.Genesis 6:13,22; Romans 3:22; 4:13; Philippians 3:9; 1 Peter 3:20;">[xr]

1 Peter 3:20
who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water.Genesis 6:3,5, 13; 7:7; 8:18; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5;">[xr]

2 Peter 2:5
and if he did not spare the ancient world but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others when he brought the flood on the world of ungodly people;Genesis 7:1,7, 23; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:19-20; 2 Peter 3:6;">[xr]

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That they do good,.... Rich men sometimes do much ill to themselves, to the hurt of their bodies, by luxury, intemperance, and debauchery, and to their souls, to the ruin of them; and to others by fraud, oppression, and violence; for it is in the power of their hands to do much evil, and also to do much good, as they should; and much is required of them, since much is given them to do good with, and for which they are accountable: it becomes them, and especially such as believe in Christ, to do every good work in general, and to do acts of beneficence in particular, both to all men, and to the household of faith.

That they be rich in good works; or abound in the performance of them, as Dorcas is said to be full of good works and alms deeds; and to reckon that their true riches lie more in the exercise of grace, and in the fruits of it, doing good works, than in their worldly enjoyments. The phrase seems to be Rabbinical. Frequent mention is made of עשיר בתורה, "rich in the law", and עשיר במצות, "rich in the commandments" t; and it is said u, no man is poor but he that is without the law, and good works, for the riches of a man are the law, and good works.

Ready to distribute; unasked; and when they are asked, do not turn away, and put off, but give at once, and without grief, and with cheerfulness; want no arguments to press them to it, nor use any against it.

Willing to communicate; of their good things to the necessities of the poor, making them common to them, and them partakers of them. Some render the word "sociable", in opposition to that moroseness, stillness, and those haughty and forbidding airs, with which rich men are apt to treat the poor, when they should be affable and courteous to them, and admit them to a free conversation with them.

t Zohar in Numb. fol. 91. 3. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 34. fol. 173. 4. & Tzeror Hammaor, fol. 15. 2. u Raya Mehimna in Exod. fol 48. 3. Vid. T. Bab. Megilia, fol. 11. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That they do good - On the duty enjoined in this verse, see Galatians 6:10 note; Hebrews 13:10 note.

That they be rich in good works - “That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.”

Ready to distribute - To divide with others; compare Acts 4:34. The meaning is, that they should be liberal, or bountiful.

Willing to communicate - Margin, or “sociable.” The translation in the text is a more correct rendering of the Greek. The idea is, that they should be willing to share their blessings with others, so as to make others comfortable; see the notes on Hebrews 13:16; compare the argument of Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, and the notes on that passage.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. That they do good — That they relieve the wants of their fellow creatures, according to the abundance which God has given them. The highest luxury a human being can enjoy on this side of the grave.

Rich in good works — That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.

Ready to distribute — ευμεταδοτους ειναι. That they give nothing through partiality or favour, but be guided in their distribution by the necessities of the objects presented to them; and that they confine not their charity at home, but scatter it abroad.

Willing to communicate — κοινωνικους. Bringing every poor person into a state of fellowship with themselves.