1 Timothy 6:17

Contextual Overview

¹³In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹³ I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹³I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹³I'm calling you out in front of everyone, and even before Jesus Christ, who offered Pontius Pilate the grace he didn't deserve, ¹³ I give you orders before God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate gave witness to the faith, ¹³ I enjoin thee before God who preserves all things in life, and Christ Jesus who witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession, ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you ¹³ I charge you in the sight of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, ¹³ I charge thee, before God, who quickneth all things, and Jesus Christ, who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Charge: 1 Timothy 6:13, 1 Timothy 1:3, 1 Timothy 5:21

rich: Genesis 13:2, Job 1:1-3, Matthew 19:23, Matthew 27:57, Luke 19:2, Luke 19:9, Luke 19:10

that they: Deuteronomy 6:10-12, Deuteronomy 8:17, Deuteronomy 33:15, 2 Chronicles 26:16, 2 Chronicles 32:25, 2 Chronicles 32:26, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 10:4, Psalms 73:5-9, Proverbs 30:9, Jeremiah 2:31, Ezekiel 16:49, Ezekiel 16:50, Ezekiel 16:56, Daniel 4:30, Daniel 5:19-23, Hosea 13:6, Habakkuk 1:15, Habakkuk 1:16, Romans 11:20, James 1:9, James 1:10, Revelation 18:6, Revelation 18:7

trust: Job 31:24, Job 31:25, Psalms 52:7, Psalms 62:10, Proverbs 11:28, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24, Mark 10:24, Luke 12:15-21, Ephesians 5:5

uncertain riches: Gr. the uncertainty of riches, Proverbs 23:5, Proverbs 27:24, Ecclesiastes 5:13, Ecclesiastes 5:14

but: Psalms 62:8, Psalms 84:11, Psalms 84:12, Psalms 118:8, Psalms 118:9, Jeremiah 17:7, Jeremiah 17:8

the living: 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:9

who: Psalms 104:28, Matthew 6:32, Acts 14:27, Acts 17:25

richly: Ecclesiastes 5:18, Ecclesiastes 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Titus 3:6,*marg.

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:29 - I have Genesis 2:16 - thou mayest freely eat Exodus 6:13 - General Leviticus 8:35 - keep Leviticus 26:5 - eat your Numbers 21:18 - princes Deuteronomy 1:16 - charged Deuteronomy 17:17 - neither shall he Deuteronomy 26:11 - rejoice Deuteronomy 28:47 - General Deuteronomy 33:14 - the precious Judges 18:10 - where there 1 Chronicles 29:22 - eat and drink 2 Chronicles 32:29 - God Nehemiah 3:5 - their nobles Nehemiah 8:10 - Go your way Esther 4:8 - to charge Esther 5:11 - the glory Job 42:12 - So Psalms 49:6 - trust Psalms 65:9 - thou preparest Psalms 103:5 - satisfieth Psalms 104:24 - the earth Psalms 119:36 - and not to Proverbs 8:18 - durable Proverbs 10:15 - rich Proverbs 28:11 - rich Ecclesiastes 2:24 - nothing Ecclesiastes 6:8 - the poor Ecclesiastes 7:11 - good with an inheritance Ecclesiastes 8:15 - Then I Ecclesiastes 10:19 - but Jeremiah 10:10 - the living Jeremiah 48:7 - because Jeremiah 49:4 - trusted Ezekiel 28:5 - and thine Hosea 12:8 - Yet Joel 2:26 - ye shall Matthew 5:42 - General Matthew 6:19 - General Matthew 6:20 - General Matthew 6:24 - mammon Matthew 13:22 - the deceitfulness Matthew 19:21 - go Matthew 25:16 - went Matthew 25:35 - I was an Mark 4:19 - the deceitfulness Mark 10:21 - treasure Luke 6:24 - woe Luke 8:14 - and are Luke 12:17 - shall Luke 12:19 - Soul Luke 12:33 - provide Luke 16:9 - Make Luke 19:8 - Behold Acts 14:17 - filling Romans 2:4 - riches Romans 11:9 - their table 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 1 Corinthians 10:26 - General 2 Corinthians 9:11 - enriched Galatians 6:10 - do good Philippians 4:19 - according 1 Thessalonians 2:11 - charged 1 Thessalonians 5:27 - I charge 1 Timothy 5:7 - General 2 Timothy 3:4 - highminded 1 John 3:17 - whoso

Cross-References

Genesis 2:7
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7
Then Yahweh God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and so the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7
The Lorde God also dyd shape man, [euen] dust fro of the grounde, & breathed into his nosethrylles the breath of lyfe, and man was a lyuyng soule.

Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and made a man. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose, and the man became a living thing.

Genesis 2:7
then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7
Therfor the Lord God formede man of the sliym of erthe, and brethide in to his face the brething of lijf; and man was maad in to a lyuynge soule.

Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, & breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a liuing soule.

Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Charge them that are rich in this world,.... Or in the things of this world. The Arabic version reads, "in this present world": in distinction from the world to come: some are poor in this world, and rich in another; others are rich in this world, and poor, and wretched, and miserable in the world to come: some are rich in both worlds, and such were at least some of those the apostle here refers to, who were members of the church at Ephesus, which was a rich city, and some rich men in it were called by the grace of God; and to distinguish these from others, who, though poor in this world, were rich in grace and in spiritual gifts, he so calls them; as well as to observe that their riches were like the world they were in, deceitful, empty, unsatisfying, and perishing: these the apostle would have not only spoke to, instructed, exhorted, and entreated, but strictly charged and commanded, without paying any regard to their worldly grandeur and riches,

that they be not high minded; the Ethiopic version reads, "that they be not lifted up in this world"; with their wealth and worldly substance, and look down from the height of their honour and riches with contempt upon the poor, entertaining high thoughts of themselves, as if their bodies were of another matter and make, when they have all one Maker, are of one blood, and of the earth, earthly, and must return to it; or as if their souls were more large and capacious, and they were wiser and more knowing, whereas riches are not always to men of understanding, a fool may be rich, and a wise man poor; or as if they were the peculiar favourites of heaven, when, for the most part, God chooses and calls the poor of this world; or as if others were unworthy of their looks, company, and conversation. Riches produce pride; rich men are apt to be proud of themselves, and despise others; and therefore this evil is taken notice of, as what they are to be cautioned against, and charged to the contrary:

nor trust in uncertain riches; or "in the uncertainty of riches"; they are here today, and gone tomorrow; no man that is possessed of them can be sure of them a moment; they make themselves wings and flee away; he that gives them, can take them away at pleasure: and there are various ways by which they are suddenly, and at once taken from the owners of them; as by loss in trade, by shipwreck, by inundations, by fire, by thieves, c, and yet men are apt to promise themselves a continuance of them, and to have their dependence upon them, and place their trust and confidence in them, yea, even good men and that very much to the neglect of, and disregard to the providence of God, which is always best and safest in every circumstance and station of life to depend upon, as follows:

but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; almost every word carries in it an argument or reason why he should be trusted, because he is God, and not a creature; the "living" God, who has life in himself, essentially and originally; is the author, giver, and maintainer of life in others; and who always is, ever continues unchangeably the same: and "giveth all things"; every good gift comes from him; all the gifts of nature, and bounties of Providence; and as he gives, he can take away, and therefore should be only regarded; and he gives all things "richly", largely, and plenteously; what is necessary and convenient, and abundantly more than men deserve: and that "to enjoy"; not to lay up, but to use for support, refreshment, and pleasure, though not to abuse.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded - One of the evils to which they are particularly exposed. The idea is, that they should not value themselves on account of their wealth, or look down with pride and arrogance on their inferiors. They should not suppose that they are any better people or any nearer heaven, because they are wealthy. Property really makes no distinction in the great things that pertain to character and salvation, It does not necessarily make one wise, or learned, or great, or good. In all these things, the man who has not wealth may be vastly the superior of him who has; and for so slight and unimportant a distinction as gold can confer, no man should be proud. Besides, let such a man reflect that his property is the gift of God; that he is made rich because God has chosen to arrange things so that he should be; that it is not primarily owing to any skill or wisdom which he has; that his property only increases his responsibility, and that it must all soon be left, and he be as poor as the “beggar that lies at his gate;” and he will see ample reason why he should not be proud.

Nor trust in uncertain riches - Margin, “The uncertainty of.” The margin expresses the meaning of the Greek more accurately than the text, but the sense is not materially varied. Riches are uncertain because they may soon be taken away. No dependence can be placed on them in the emergencies of life. He who is rich today, has no security that he will be tomorrow; and if he shall be rich tomorrow, he has no certainty that his riches will meet his necessities then. A man whose house is in flames, or who is shipwrecked, or whose child lies dying, or who is himself in the agonizes of death, can derive no advantage from the fact that he is richer than other people; see notes on Luke 12:16-21. That against which Paul here directs Timothy to caution the rich, is that to which they are most exposed. A man who is rich, is very liable to “trust” in His riches, and to suppose that he needs nothing more; compare Luke 12:19. He feels that he is not dependent on his fellow-men, and he is very likely to feel that he is not dependent on God. It is for this cause that God has recorded so many solemn declarations in his word respecting the instability of riches (compare Proverbs 23:5), and that he is furnishing so many instructive lessons in his providence, showing how easily riches may suddenly vanish away.

But in the living God -

(1) He is able to supply all our needs, and to do for us what riches cannot do; and,

(2) He never changes, or leaves those who put their trust in him. He is able to meet our needs if in the flames, or in a storm at sea, or when a friend dies, or when we lie down on a bed of death, or wherever we may be in the eternal world.

Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy - The meaning of this seems to be, that God permits us to enjoy everything. Everything in the works of creation and redemption he has given to man for his happiness, and he should therefore trust in him. He has not merely given wealth for the comfort of people, but he has given everything, and he on whom so many and so great blessings have been bestowed for his comfort, should trust in the great Benefactor himself, and not rely merely on one of his gifts; compare notes on 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 17. Charge them that are rich — He had before, in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, given them a very awful lesson concerning their obtaining riches; and now he gives them one equally so concerning their use of them.

That they be not high-minded — That they do not value themselves on account of their wealth, for this adds nothing to mind or moral worth.

Nor trust in uncertain riches — πλουτου αδηλοτητι. The uncertainty of riches; things which are never at a stay, are ever changing, and seldom continue long with one proprietor; therefore, as well as on many other accounts, they are not to be trusted in: they cannot give happiness, because they are not fixed and permanent; neither can they meet the wishes of an immortal spirit; but in the living God, who is the unchangeable fountain of perfection.

Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy — Who not only has all good, but dispenses it liberally for the supply of the wants of all his creatures; and he does not give merely what is necessary, but he gives what tends to render life comfortable. The comforts of life come from God, as well as the necessaries. He not only gives us a bare subsistence, but he gives us enjoyments. Were it not for the oppression and rapine of wicked men, every situation and state in life would be comparatively comfortable. God gives liberally; man divides it badly.