1 Timothy 6:3-10

False Teachers and True Contentment

3 If anyone s teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with t the sound 1 words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching u that accords with godliness, 4 v he is puffed up with conceit and w understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for x controversy and for y quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people z who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, a imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 Now there is great gain in b godliness c with contentment, 7 for d we brought nothing into the world, and 2 we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But e if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But f those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, g into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that h plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of i all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

  1. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:3
    As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine.
  2. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:10
    The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.
  3. Cross References
    Titus 1:1
    Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.
  4. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:6
    He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
    2 Timothy 3:4
    Treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:2
    If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
    1 Timothy 1:7
    Desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
  6. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:4
    Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
    2 Timothy 2:23
    Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
    Titus 3:9
    But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
  7. Cross References
    2 Timothy 2:14
    Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
    Acts 18:15
    But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.
  8. Cross References
    2 Timothy 3:8
    Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
    Ephesians 4:22
    To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.
    Titus 1:15
    To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
  9. Cross References
    Titus 1:11
    They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
    2 Peter 2:3
    And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
  10. Cross References
    1 Timothy 4:8
    For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 37:16
    Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
    Proverbs 15:16
    Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
    Proverbs 16:8
    Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.
    Philippians 4:11
    Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
    Hebrews 13:5
    Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.
  12. Cross References
    Job 1:21
    And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
    Psalms 49:17
    For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
    Ecclesiastes 5:15
    As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 28:20
    Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear.
    Proverbs 30:8
    Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.
  14. Cross References
    Proverbs 15:27
    Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
    Proverbs 23:4
    Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
    Proverbs 28:20
    A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
    Matthew 13:22
    As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
  15. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:7
    Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
  16. Cross References
    1 Timothy 1:19
    Holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.
  17. Cross References
    Exodus 23:8
    And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
    Deuteronomy 16:19
    You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.