1 Timothy 6:19

New American Standard Bible

storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

King James Version (1611)
Laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay holde on eternall life.

King James Version
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

English Standard Version
thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

New Century Version
By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

Legacy Standard Bible
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

Berean Standard Bible
treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Contemporary English Version
This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so that they will know what true life is like.

Complete Jewish Bible
In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life.

Darby Translation
laying by for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of [what is] really life.

Easy-to-Read Version
By doing this, they will be saving up a treasure for themselves. And that treasure will be a strong foundation on which their future life will be built. They will be able to have the life that is true life.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come, that they may obteine eternall life.

George Lamsa Translation
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the true life.

Good News Translation
In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life.

Lexham English Bible
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life.

Literal Translation
treasuring away for themselves a good foundation for the coming age , that they may lay hold on everlasting life.

Amplified Bible
In this way storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

American Standard Version
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.

Bible in Basic English
Making ready for themselves a safe place for the time to come, so that the true life may be theirs.

Hebrew Names Version
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

International Standard Version
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]

Etheridge Translation
and lay for themselves a good foundation for that which is to be, that they may lay hold on the true life.

Murdock Translation
and that they lay up for themselves a good foundation for that which is future; that they may take hold of real life.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Laying vp in store for them selues a good foundation agaynst the tyme to come, that they may lay holde on eternall lyfe.

English Revised Version
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is [life] indeed.

World English Bible
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Treasuring up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Weymouth's New Testament
storing up for themselves that which shall be a solid foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of the Life which is life indeed.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
to comyne, to tresoure to hem silf a good foundement in to tyme to comynge, that thei catche euerlastinge lijf.

Update Bible Version
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is [life] indeed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

New English Translation
In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

New King James Version
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

New Living Translation
By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

New Life Bible
Then they will be gathering together riches for themselves. These good things are what they will build on for the future. Then they will have the only true life!

New Revised Standard
thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Treasuring up for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the true life.

Revised Standard Version
thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
layinge vp in store for them selves a good foundacio agaynst the tyme to come yt they maye obteyne eternall lyfe

Young's Literal Translation
treasuring up to themselves a right foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life age-during.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
gatherynge vp treasure for them selues, a good foundacion, agaynst ye tyme to come, that they maye laye honde on eternall life.

Mace New Testament (1729)
securing to themselves a well-grounded expectation of obtaining hereafter an immortal life.

Simplified Cowboy Version
By doing these things, they will be making deposits in heaven. Their good deeds will be the foundation of their eternal lives. It's in eternity that their true life will be revealed.

Contextual Overview

¹³ I direct you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep the commandment without fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. ¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.²⁰ Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"— ²¹ which some have professed and thereby have gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Laying: Psalms 17:14, Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 10:41, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 25:34-40, Luke 12:33, Luke 16:9, Luke 18:2, Luke 18:22, Galatians 6:8, Galatians 6:9

foundation: Proverbs 10:25, Luke 6:48, Luke 6:49, Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 3:17, 2 Timothy 2:19

the time: Proverbs 31:25, Luke 16:9, Luke 16:25

lay: 1 Timothy 6:12, Philippians 3:14, 1 Peter 1:4

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 15:10 - thine heart Proverbs 6:8 - General Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye Ecclesiastes 11:2 - a portion Matthew 19:16 - eternal Luke 12:21 - he Acts 2:45 - parted Acts 4:34 - for 2 Corinthians 8:10 - expedient 2 Timothy 4:8 - there Titus 1:2 - eternal Hebrews 6:1 - laying Hebrews 10:34 - in yourselves that ye have 1 John 2:25 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 6:2
that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

Genesis 6:3
Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not remain with man forever, because he is also flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years."

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:9
These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.

Genesis 6:15
"This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

Genesis 6:16
"You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and put the door of the ark on the side; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

Genesis 8:17
"Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every crawling thing that crawls on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."

Psalms 36:6
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep. LORD, You protect mankind and animals.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Laying up in store for themselves..... Laying up a treasure in heaven, which will be for themselves to enjoy to all eternity; whereas what they lay up here is for others, for their children or friends, and sometimes for strangers, and they know not who, whether for a wise man or a fool, yea, even for enemies: so it is said of King Munbaz, when he dispersed his father's treasures to the poor, his brethren and friends came about him, complaining of it; to whom he said w

"my fathers treasured up below, I treasure up above. My fathers treasured "up for others", I treasure up לעצמי, "for myself"; my fathers treasured up for this world, I treasure up for the world to come.''

So it follows here,

a good foundation against the time to come; by which is meant, not a foundation of happiness, for that is laid already, and by God himself; and much less by doing acts of beneficence is that foundation laid; for there is no other foundation of happiness, life, and salvation, that can be laid, besides what is laid, which is Jesus Christ: nor is the apostle speaking of laying a foundation here, to build upon, but of laying up a foundation in heaven, by which he intends happiness itself; and which he calls a "foundation", because it is solid and substantial, permanent and durable, in opposition to the uncertain, precarious, transitory, and perishing enjoyments and treasures of this life; and

good, because profitable, when the laying up of worldly riches is often to the hurt of its owners, and will be useful, when they will not profit; and besides, will always continue, and be a foundation that will always support them, and never give way: now to lay up this is no other than to seek those things which are above, to show a concern for them, and to set the affections on them, and live in the comfortable hope and expectation of enjoying them. The phrase is the same with that in Matthew 6:19 and takes in a regard to spiritual riches, the riches of grace flow, such as sanctifying, justifying, and pardoning grace through Christ; which will be a good foundation

against the time to come; and will give both a right and meetness for the enjoyment of the heavenly treasures, which will be for futurity, even to all eternity.

That they may lay hold on eternal life; not by way of merit, but as the free gift of God, which the riches of grace give a title to, and a fitness for; and which shall be laid hold upon, and enjoyed by all that seek the true riches. The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read, "true life"; for the present life is rather a show, an appearance of life, than life itself.

w T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 11. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Laying up in store for themselves ... - The meaning of this verse is, that they were to make such a use of their property that it would contribute to their eternal welfare. It might be the means of exalted happiness and honor in heaven, if they would so use it as not to interfere with religion in the soul, and so as to do the most good possible. See the sentiment in this verse explained at length in the notes on Luke 16:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation — St. Paul seems to have borrowed this form of speech from Tobit. See chap. iv. 8, 9: If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou hast but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little: for thou treasurest up a good reward for thyself against the day of necessity. Θεμα ραρ αγαθον θησαυριζεις σεαυτω εις ἡμεραν αναγκης. The apostle says: Αποθησαυριζοντας ἑαυτοις θεμελιον καλον εις το μελλον, ἱνα επιλαβωνται της αιωνιου ζωης "Treasuring up a good foundation to them for the future, that they may lay hold on eternal life." The sentiment is the same in both writers; the words nearly so; and the meaning is simply this, as it is judiciously paraphrased by Mr. J. Wesley in his note on this passage: "Treasuring up for themselves a good foundation, of an abundant reward by the free mercy of God, that they may lay hold on eternal life. This cannot be done by almsdeeds; yet, they come up for a memorial before God; Acts 10:4. And the lack even of this may be the cause why God will withhold grace and salvation from us." Christ has said: Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. They who have not been merciful according to their power, shall not obtain mercy; they that have, shall obtain mercy: and yet the eternal life which they obtain they look for from the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.