1 Timothy 6:8

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1 Timothy 6:8 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

King James Version KJV

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

American Standard Version ASV

but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.

Bible in Basic English BBE

But if we have food and a roof over us, let that be enough.

Free Bible Version FBV

But if we have food and clothes then that's enough for us.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Therefore when wee haue foode and raiment, let vs therewith be content.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

but having food and raiment — with these we shall suffice ourselves;

World English Bible WEB

But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

And having food and raiment, with these let us be content.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

But having food, and wherewith to be covered, with these we are content.

Translation for Translators T4T

so if we have food and clothing, we should be satisfied with these.

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Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Timothy 6:8

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Word Study

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1 Timothy 6:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

GRK εχοντες δε διατροφας και σκεπασματα τουτοις αρκεσθησομεθα

εχοντες echō G2192 to have/be Verb-PAP-NPM

δε de G1161 then Conj

διατροφας diatrophē G1305 food Noun-APF

και kai G2532 and Conj

σκεπασματα skepasma G4629 clothing Noun-APN

τουτοις ohutos G3778 this/he/she/it Dem-DPN

αρκεσθησομεθα arkeō G714 be sufficient Verb-FPI-1P

Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — 1 Timothy 6:8

εχοντες echō G2192 "to have/be" Verb-PAP-NPM

This Greek word means to have or hold something, like a possession or ability. It is used in many ways, such as having power or being with someone. The Bible uses it in Revelation 5:8 and 14:6.

Definition: ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. __I. Trans.; __1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; __(a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; __(b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; __(with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; __(d) to hold fast, keep: Luk.19:20; metaphorically, of the mind and conduct, Mrk.16:8 (cf. Job.21:6, Isa.13:8; Deiss., BS, 293; Field, Notes, 44f.), Jhn.14:21, Rom.1:28, 1Ti.3:9, 2Ti.1:13, Rev.6:9, al.; __(e) to involve: Heb.10:35 (LXX), Jas.1:4, 1Jn.4:18; (f) = Lat. habere (Bl., §34, 5; 73, 5), to hold, consider: with accusative and predic. ptcp., Luk.14:18; with accusative, before ὡς, Mat.14:5; εἰς (Hebraism), Mat.21:46; on (Bl., §70, 2), Mrk.11:32. __2. to have, possess; __(a) in general, with accusative of thing(s): Mat.19:22, Mrk.10:22, Luk.12:19, Jhn.10:16, 1Co.11:22, al.; of wealth or poverty, absol., ἔχειν (neg. οὐκ, μή), Mat.13:12 25:29, 2Co.8:12; ἐκ τ. ἔχειν, according to your means, 2Co.8:11; __(b) of relationship, association, and: πατέρα, Jhn.8:41; γυναῖκα (MM, xiv), 1Co.7:2; φίλον, Luk.11:5; βασιλέα, Jhn.19:15; ποιμένα, Mat.9:36; with dupl. accusative, Mat.3:9, al.; __(with) of parts or members: ὦτα, Mat.19:15; μέλη, Rom.12:4; θεμελίους, __(d) with accusative, as periphrasis of verb: μνεῖαν ἔ. (= μεμνῆσθαι), 1Th.3:6; ἀγάπην, Jhn.13:35; γνῶσιν, 1Co.8:1; πεποίθησιν, 2Co.3:4; θλίψιν, Jhn.16:33, etc. (Thayer, see word, I, 2, f., g.); __(e) of duty, necessity, etc.: ἀνάγκην, 1Co.7:37; νόμον, Jhn.19:7; ἐπιταγήν, 1Co.7:25; ἀγῶνα, Php.1:30; κρίμα, 1Ti.5:12; __(f) of complaints and disputes; κατά, with genitive of person(s), Mat.5:23, Mrk.11:25; id. before ὅτι, Rev.2:4, 20; with accusative before πρός, Act.24:19, al.; __(g) with inf., __(α) (cl.) to be able (Field, Notes, 14): Mat.18:25, Mrk.14:8 (sc. ποιῆσαι), Luk.12:4, Act.4:14, al; __(β) of necessity (BL, §69, 4): Luk.12:50, Act.23:17-19 28:19. __II. Intrans. (BL, §53, 1), to be in a certain condition: ἑτοίμως ἔ., with inf., Act.21:13, 2Co.12:14; ἐσχάτως (which see), Mrk.5:23; κακῶς, to be ill, Mat.4:24, al.; καλῶς, Mk 16:[18]; κομψότερον, Jhn.4:52; πῶς, Act.15:36; impers., ἄλλως εἴχει, it is otherwise, 1Ti.5:25; οὕτως, Act.7:1, al.; τὸ νῦν ἔχον, as things now are (Tob.7:11), Act.24:25. __III. Mid., -ομαι, to hold oneself fast, hold on or cling to, be next to: with genitive, τ. ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας, Heb.6:9 (Rendall, in l.); ptcp., ὁ ἐχόμενος, near, next: of place, Mrk.1:38; of time, τ. ἐχομένη (ἡμέρα, expressed or understood), Luk.13:33, Act.20:15 21:26; (σαββάτῳ), Act.13:44. (Cf. ἀν-, προσ-αν-, ἀντ-, ἀπ-, ἐν-, ἐπ-, κατ-, μετ-, παρ-, περι-, προ-, προσ-, συν-, ὑπερ-, ὑπ-έχω.) (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 628 NT verses. KJV: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use See also: 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Peter 2:12.

δε de G1161 "then" Conj

This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.

Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.

διατροφας diatrophē G1305 "food" Noun-APF

Food or nourishment for the body, as mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:8, necessary for survival.

Definition: δια-τροφή, ῆς, ἡ (διατρέφω, to support, sustain), [in LXX: 1Ma.6:49 * ;] food, nourishment: 1Ti.6:8.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1 NT verses. KJV: food See also: 1 Timothy 6:8.

και kai G2532 "and" Conj

And or also, a connecting word used to join ideas or words, like in Matthew 2:18 and Hebrews 1:1.

Definition: καί, conj., and __I. Copulative. __1. Connecting single words; __(a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. __(b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; __(with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. __2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. __(a) where, after the simplicity of the popular language, sentences are paratactically joined (WM, §60, 3; M, Pr., 12; Deiss., LAE, 128ff.): Mat.1:21, 7:25, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.10:3, al.; __(b) joining affirmative to negative sentences: Luk.3:14, Jhn.4:11, IIIJhn.10; __(with) consecutive, and so: Mat.5:1, 23:32, Heb.3:19, al.; after imperatives, Mat.4:19, Luk.7:7, al.; __(d) = καίτοι, and yet: Mat.3:14, 6:26, Mrk.12:12, Luk.18:7 (Field, Notes, 72), 1Co.5:2, al.; __(e) beginning an apodosis (= Heb. וְ; so sometimes δέ in cl.), then: Luk.2:21, 7:12, Act.1:10; beginning a question (WM, §53, 3a): Mrk.10:26, Luk.10:29, Jhn.9:36. __3. Epexegetic, and, and indeed, namely (WM, §53, 3c): Luk.3:18, Jhn.1:16, Act.23:6, Rom.1:5, 1Co.3:5, al. __4. In transition: Mat.4:23, Mrk.5:1, 21, Jhn.1:19, al.; so, Hebraistically, καὶ ἐγένετο (וַי:הִי; also ἐγένετο δέ), Mrk.1:9 (cf. Luk.5:1; V. Burton, §§357-60; M, Pr., 14, 16). __5. καὶ . . . καί, both . . . and (for τε . . . καί, see: τε); __(a) connecting single words: Mat.10:28, Mrk.4:41, Rom.11:33, al.; __(b) clauses and sentences: Mrk.9:13, Jhn.7:28, 1Co.1:22, al. __II. Adjunctive, also, even, still: Mat.5:39, 40; Mrk.2:28, al. mult.; esp. with pron., adv., etc., Mat.20:4, Jhn.7:47, al; ὡς κ., Act.11:17; καθὼς κ., Rom.15:7; οὑτω κ., Rom.6:11; διὸ κ., Luk.1:35; ὁ κ. (Deiss., BS, 313ff.), Act.13:9; pleonastically, μετὰ κ.. (Bl., §77, 7; Deiss., BS, 265f,), Php.4:3; τί κ., 1 Co 15:29; ἀλλὰ κ., Luk.14:22, Jhn.5:18, al.; καίγε (M, Pr., 230; Burton, §437), Act.17:27; καίπερ, Heb.5:8; κ. ἐάν, see: ἐάν. ἐάν, contr. fr. εἰ ἄν, conditional particle, representing something as "under certain circumstances actual or liable to happen," but not so definitely expected as in the case of εἰ with ind. (Bl., §65, 4; cf. Jhn.13:17, 1Co.7:36), if haply, if; __1. with subjc. (cl.); __(a) pres.: Mat.6:22, Luk.10:6, Jhn.7:17, Rom.2:25, 26 al.; { __(b) aor. (= Lat. fut. pf.): Mat.4:9 16:26 (cf. ptcp. in Luk.9:25; M, Pr., 230), Mrk.3:24, Luk.14:34, Jhn.5:43, Rom.7:2, al.; = cl. εἰ, with opt., Jhn.9:22 11:57, Act.9:2; as Heb. אִם = ὅταν, Jhn.12:32 14:3, I Jhn.2:28 3:2, Heb.3:7" (LXX) . __2. C. indic, (as in late writers, fr. Arist. on; see WH, App., 171; VD, MGr. 2, App., §77; Deiss., BS, 201f., LAE, 155, 254; M, Pr., 168, 187; Bl., §65, 4); __(a) fut.: Mat.18:19 T, Luk.19:40, Act.7:7; __(b) pres.: 1Th.3:8 (see Milligan, in l.). __3. With other particles: ἐ. καί (Bl., §65, 6), Gal.6:1; ἐ. μή (M, Pr., 185, 187; Bl., l.with), with subjc. pres., Mat.10:13, 1Co.8:8, Jas.2:17, 1Jn.3:21; aor., Mat.6:15, Mrk.3:27, Jhn.3:3, Rom.10:15, Gal.1:8 2:16 (see Lft., Ellic., in ll.); ἐ. τε . . . ἐ. τε, [in LXX for אִם . . . אִם, Est.19:13, al.,] Rom.14:8. __4. = cl. ἄν (which see) after relat. pronouns and adverbs (Tdf., Pr., 96; WH, App., 173; M, Pr., 42f.; Bl., §26, 4; Mayser, 152f.; Deiss., BS, 202ff.): ὃς ἐ., Mat.5:19, Mrk.6:22, 23 Luk.17:32, 1Co.6:18, al.; ὅπου ἐ., Mat.8:19; ὁσάκις ἐ., Rev.11:6; οὗ ἐ., 1Co.16:6; καθὸ ἐ., 2Co.8:12; ὅστις ἐ., Gal.5:10. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 5212 NT verses. KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Corinthians 16:1.

σκεπασματα skepasma G4629 "clothing" Noun-APN

Clothing or a covering, as in 1 Timothy 6:8, referring to basic necessities like food and raiment.

Definition: σκέπασμα, -τος, τό (σκεπάζω, to cover), a covering, esp. clothing: 1Ti.6:8.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1 NT verses. KJV: raiment See also: 1 Timothy 6:8.

τουτοις ohutos G3778 "this/he/she/it" Dem-DPN

This refers to a specific person or thing, like when Jesus says 'this is my body' in Matthew 26:26 and Mark 14:22.

Definition: οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; __1. as subst., this one, he; __(a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; __(b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; __(with) proleptic (referring to what follows): before ἵνα (Bl., §69, 6), Luk.1:43, Jhn.3:19 (and freq.) 15:8, Rom.14:9, al.; before ὅτι, Luk.10:11, Jhn.9:3o, Act.24:14, Rom.2:3, al.; ὅπως, Rom.9:17; ἐάν, Jhn.13:35; __(d) special idioms: τοῦτο μὲν . . . τ. δέ (cl), partly . . . partly. Heb.10:33; καὶ τοῦτο (τοῦτον, ταῦτα), and that (him) too, Rom.13:11, 1Co.2:2, Heb.11:12; τοῦτ᾽ ἐστιν, Mat.27:46. __2. As adj., with subst.; __(a) with art. __(α) before the art.: Mat.12:32, Mrk.9:29, Luk.7:44, Jhn.4:15, Rom.11:24, Rev.19:9, al.; __(β) after the noun: Mat.3:9, Mrk.12:16, Luk.11:31, Jhn.4:13, Act.6:13, Rom.15:28, 1Co.1:20, Rev.2:24, al.; __(b) with subst. anarth. (with predicative force; Bl., §49, 4): Luk.1:36 2:2 24:21, Jhn.2:11 4:54 21:14, 2Co.13:1. (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 1281 NT verses. KJV: he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who See also: 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 1:11.

αρκεσθησομεθα arkeō G714 "be sufficient" Verb-FPI-1P

To be sufficient or satisfactory, used in Matthew 25:9 and 2 Corinthians 12:9. It means to have enough of something or to be content with what you have.

Definition: ἀρκέω, -ῶ [in LXX for הוֹן, etc. ;] __1. to keep off; with dative, to assist. __2. to suffice: with dative of person(s), Jo 67, 2Co.12:9; impers., Mat.25:9, Jhn.14:8 (MM, see word). Pass., to be satisfied: with dative of thing(s), Luk.3:14, 1Ti.6:8, Heb.13:5; before ἐπί, III Jn 10.† (AS)

Usage: Occurs in 8 NT verses. KJV: be content, be enough, suffice, be sufficient See also: 1 Timothy 6:8; John 6:7; Hebrews 13:5.

Study Notes — 1 Timothy 6:8

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
1 Timothy 6:8 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on 1 Timothy 6:8
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 6:8
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8
Cambridge Bible on 1 Timothy 6:8
Barnes' Notes on 1 Timothy 6:8
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8
Sermons on 1 Timothy 6:8

Context — Godliness with Contentment

6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

9Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Hebrews 13:5–6	Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
2	Matthew 6:11	Give us this day our daily bread.
3	Matthew 6:25–33	Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
4	Genesis 28:20	Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear,
5	Proverbs 30:8–9	Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
6	Ecclesiastes 3:12–13	I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live, and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
7	Deuteronomy 2:7	Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these forty years, and you have lacked nothing.
8	Proverbs 27:23–27	Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grain from the hills is gathered, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
9	Ecclesiastes 2:24–26	Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
10	Deuteronomy 8:3–4	He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

1 Timothy 6:8 Summary

[This verse is saying that if we have the basic things we need to survive, like food and clothes, we should be happy with that. It's not about having a lot of stuff, but about being content with what we have, as Jesus taught in Luke 12:15. When we focus on being content with what we have, we can trust in God's provision and live a more peaceful life, free from the worries and cares of this world, as promised in Matthew 6:25-34.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be content with food and clothing?

Being content with food and clothing means being satisfied with the basic necessities of life, recognizing that these are gifts from God, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:3-4, where God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Is it wrong to want more than just food and clothing?

While it's not wrong to desire more, 1 Timothy 6:8 emphasizes the importance of being content with what we have, whereas desiring to be rich can lead to temptation and harm, as warned in 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

How can we apply this verse in our daily lives?

We can apply this verse by prioritizing our needs over our wants, being grateful for what we have, and trusting in God's provision, as encouraged in Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 6:25-34.

What is the relationship between contentment and godliness?

According to 1 Timothy 6:6, godliness with contentment is great gain, indicating that being content with what we have is a key aspect of living a godly life, as it allows us to focus on our relationship with God and trust in His provision, rather than pursuing wealth and material possessions.

Reflection Questions

What are some things in my life that I am not content with, and how can I learn to be satisfied with what I have?
How can I prioritize my needs over my wants, and trust in God's provision for my life?
What are some ways that desiring to be rich or having an abundance of possessions can lead to harm or temptation in my life?
How can I cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment, even in difficult circumstances?
What does it mean to me that godliness with contentment is great gain, and how can I pursue this in my own life?

Gill's Exposition on 1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment,.... "Food" includes all things necessary to be ate and drank, of which there is a great variety, and is here expressed in the plural number; and "raiment" every necessary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. And , [ De (G1161)] - 'But.' In contrast to greedy gain-seekers (1 Timothy 6:5). Having - so long as we have.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8

If therefore God gives us any thing more than is necessary for us, let us take it thankfully, and use it for God’ s glory; but if we have no more than is just necessary for us, let us not repine, or murmur, but be content, without murmuring against God, or using any undue means, out of an inordinate desire to get more.

Trapp's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Ver. 8. And having food and raiment] Houses are not named: for that then they were to stand ready to run from place to place, and to leave house and all behind them. Food and raiment, τροφηνουτρυφην, σκεπασματαουκοσμηματα, as Isidore here elegantly observeth, Food not junkets, raiment not ornament; garments quasi guardments to guard us from the cold air. Nature is content with a little, grace with less; as, not to starve, not to thirst, μηριγαν, μηδιψαν, saith Galen; Cibus et potus sunt divitiae Christianorum, saith Jerome. Bread and water with the gospel are good cheer, saith another. Epicurus could say, that he would think himself as happy as might be, si aquam haberet et offam, if he could get but a morsel of meat and a mouthful of water. (Aelian.) This was strange from Epicurus. But Epicurei mihi videntur melius facere quam dicere, saith Cicero, Epicurus and his followers practised better than they held. (Cic. de Fin. it.) A little of the creature will serve turn to carry a man through his pilgrimage. Insaniae igitur damnandi sunt (saith Vives), qui tam multa tam anxie congerunt, quum sit tam paucis opus. He is little better than mad that heaps up such a deal, when far less will do the deed. Let us be content] Gr. αρκεσθησομεθα. Let us have enough, let us count it enough, if we have necessaries (to maintain our state, and live like ourselves); though we have not superfluities, let it seem sufficient.

Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8

(8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.—The Greek word rendered “let us be content” is better translated, we shall have a sufficiency. The argument will run thus: “All earthly possessions are only for this life; here, if we have the wherewithal to clothe us and to nourish us, we shall have enough;” if we have more than this, St. Paul goes on to show, we shall be in danger of falling into temptation. There is no contradiction between this reading and that contained in this same Epistle (1 Timothy 4:1-5). There the Apostle is warning the Church against a false, unreal asceticism, which was teaching men to look upon the rich gifts of this world, its beauties and its delights, as of themselves sinful, forgetting that these fair things were God’s creatures, and were given for man’s use and enjoyment. Here the same great teacher is pressing home the truth that the highest good on earth was that godliness which is ever accompanied with perfect contentment, which neither rejects nor deems evil the fair things of this life, but which, at the same time, never covets them, never longs for them. It was one thing to be rich, it was another to wish to be rich; in God’s providence a man might be rich without sin, but the coveting, the longing for wealth, at once exposed him to many a grave danger both to body and soul.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8

Verse 8. Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.] αρκεσθησομεθα. Let us consider this a competency. And it is evident that the apostle considers this a competency, and by these words explains what he said 1 Timothy 6:6. The word ακεπασματα, which we translate raiment, signifies covering in general; and here means house or lodging, as well as clothing.

Cambridge Bible on 1 Timothy 6:8

8. And having food] Rather, but; the opposite, positive view of life. The words for ‘food’ and ‘raiment’ are both unused in N.T. except here; both are in the plural, indicating ‘supplies of,’ for each mouth to be fed, each household to be clothed.raiment] A rather out-of-the-way word for ‘clothing,’ if we go by the use found once in Aristotle and once in Josephus, Ar. Pol. vii. 17; Jos. B. J. ii. 8. 5: literally, ‘covering;’ and so R.V., perhaps merely to keep an unusualness of phrase. But the meaning ‘shelter,’ tent or roof-covering, has been also assigned, from the root word having a more common turn towards this; and ‘covering’ may have been chosen to include this, if not to express it alone. But the immediate context in 1 Timothy 6:7 favours the reference to merely personal possessions such as dress.let us be therewith content] The verb is future passive, we shall be therewith content, as R.V.; hardly an implied exhortation, but ‘we shall, if we are godly.’ This rendering is preferable to that in the margin of R.V. ‘in these we shall have enough’ from the similar use of the passive, Luke 3:14, ‘be content with your wages;’ Hebrews 13:5, ‘content with such things as ye have.’ The connexion of the word with ‘contentment’ above should also be maintained.

Barnes' Notes on 1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment - Food and raiment, here, seem to be used to denote supplies for our needs in general.

Whedon's Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:8

8. Food and raiment—Literally, nourishments and covering. Let us be… content—Rather, we shall be sufficed. Wealth itself can afford us little more than these.

Sermons on 1 Timothy 6:8

	Sermon	Description
	Mary, Martha and Lazarus by J. Oswald Sanders	In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of materialism and the desire for constant upgrades in our society. He emphasizes that the Bible teaches principles rather than spec
	Parable of the Inheritance by Ken Baird	In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the parable of the rich man who had a crop surplus. The man decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store all his fruits and
	Plant a Tree by David Wilkerson	David Wilkerson emphasizes that God does not promise a life free from suffering or worldly security, but instead offers peace and assurance for our souls. He reminds believers that
	Contentment by David Wilkerson	David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound lesson of contentment in the life of Paul, who, despite his significant calling and the promise of God, remained faithful and content in his
	Hebrews 11:37-12:3 by St. John Chrysostom	John Chrysostom preaches about the importance of cultivating inner beauty and modesty, urging believers to adorn themselves with virtues rather than worldly adornments. He emphasiz
	1 Corinthians 14:1 by St. John Chrysostom	John Chrysostom preaches about the dangers of being consumed by the desire for wealth and the importance of using wealth for the benefit of others. He emphasizes the need to priori
	A House Full of Gold by Thomas Brooks	Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of prosperity, emphasizing that a life filled with material wealth can lead to spiritual ruin. He highlights the internal struggles and sorr