1 Timothy 6:17-21

6:17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods ¹  not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, ²  but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 6:18 Tell them to do good, ³  to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. ⁴  6:19 In this way they will save up ⁵  a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation ⁶  for the future and so lay hold of ⁷  what is truly life.

Conclusion

6:20 O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid ⁸  the profane chatter and absurdities ⁹  of so-called “knowledge.” ¹⁰  6:21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. ¹¹  Grace be with you all. ¹² 

[6:17]  ¹ tn Grk “in the present age.”

[6:17]  ² tn Grk “in uncertainty.”

[6:18]  ³ tn Grk “to do good” (the continuation of 6:17). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started at the beginning of v. 18.

[6:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “to be generous,” “sharing.”

[6:19]  ⁵ tn Grk “saving up” (the continuation of 6:18). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started at the beginning of v. 19.

[6:19]  ⁶ tn Grk “treasuring up a good foundation.”

[6:19]  ⁷ tn Grk “that they may lay hold of.”

[6:20]  ⁷ tn Grk “avoiding.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[6:20]  ⁸ tn Or “contradictions.”

[6:20]  ⁹ tn Grk “the falsely named knowledge.”

[6:21]  ⁹ tn Grk “have deviated concerning the faith.”

[6:21]  ¹⁰ tc Most witnesses (א² D¹ Ψ Ï sy) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, the earliest and best witnesses (א* A D* F G 33 81 1739* 1881 it sa) lack the particle, indicating that the letter concluded with “Grace be with you all.”