1 Timothy 6

— but in the living God, &c.] The sense is, Let them from the bottom of their hearts acknowledge God to be the author and giver of all that they possess. How much soever their heads contrived, or their hands laboured, or their parents and friends were kind to them, yet it is the Providence of the Almighty to which they owe all. The same Divine foresight and contrivance, that feeds the fowls of the air, and clothes the flowers of the field, doth also “give them richly all things to enjoy:” and therefore upon that Providence are they entirely to depend, as much exercising faith in God, and reposing confidence in Him, as if they had no visible provisions made for them: and as heartily returning thanks to their great Benefactor for every blessing they have, seem it never so much their own already, as a hungry man, that knows not where to get a meal, would to him that should give him a plentiful entertainment. In a word, those that have all things in the world must as devoutly look up to God, both in gratefully ascribing to Him every enjoyment either past or present, and in a full trust and reliance upon Him for what is to come, as those that live from hand to mouth: since it is the same Divine providence that feeds and maintains both the poor and the rich, and of His infinite goodness gives to all that fear Him, even to the poor as well as the rich, all things to enjoy; and though to the one more plentifully, yet to the other perhaps with as much content, though not in so great abundance. Abp. Sharp.

1 Timothy 6:2

2. — let them not despise them, because they are brethren.] Let them not think that they may abate aught

What Timothy is to flee. A charge to the rich. Anno DOMINI 81. Or, been

many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:11

11. — O man of God.] In the Old Testament this title is frequently given to the prophets, who revealed the mind and will of God to the people. By giving it to Timothy, the Apostle intimates to him his duty, to condemn the world, and flee the eager pursuits of riches. Burkitt.

1 Timothy 6:13

13. — who quickeneth all things.] And therefore is able to raise from the dead them who suffer for Him. Dr. Whitby.

1 Timothy 6:14

14. — until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.] The meaning of the Apostle’s exhortation is, that Timothy, by keeping this commandment without spot, was to hand it down pure to his successors in the ministry, and thereby to contribute his part towards preserving it in the world, till Christ’s second coming. Dr. Macknight.

1 Timothy 6:15

15. — King of kings, and Lord of lords.] This title the great emperors of the world took to themselves: See Dan. ii. 37; Jer. xxvii. 6; Ezra vii. 12. Therefore the Apostle says, that it belongs to God only, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. xvii. 14; xix. 16. Dr. Whitby. Christ is here described according to His divinity, in which sense He is and ever was invisible. Leslie.

1 Timothy 6:17

17. Charge them that are rich in this world.] If at all times the great have temptations beyond others, they have also reasons beyond others for struggling with them, and will be rewarded beyond others for overcoming them. Therefore St. Paul in this passage gives them no dispensations, but only provides for them stronger warnings; and instead of authorizing the ministers of God’s word to wink at their faults, requires that they admonish them with singular earnestness to perform their duties: the only prerogative in relation to this matter that can be allowed them. But as in

1 Timothy 6:18

18. — rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.] If these phrases have different significations, they may be, as Abp. Sharp explains them;

Anno DOMINI 81. Or, sociable. Timothy is enjoined to keep the faith. Anno DOMINI 63.

selves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

1 Timothy 6:20

20. — oppositions of science falsely so called:] That is, such foolish and absurd doctrines as are opposed to the truth of the Scripture by persons, whether Jews or Gentiles, who falsely esteem themselves to have more knowledge than we in religious matters. Dr. Wells. Though it is not certain that the name of Gnosticks, or the knowing men, was so early as the Apostle’s days used to denominate a distinct sect, which it was in aftertimes; yet it is highly probable that they, who opposed the Apostle, made extraordinary pretences to knowledge; and this text seems sufficient to prove it. Dr. Doddridge.

1 Timothy 6:21

21. — Grace be with thee.] This Epistle being chiefly designed for Timothy’s own use, no salutations were sent to any of the brethren at Ephesus. Dr. Macknight.

The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea.] Yet from what the Apostle says, chap. i. 3, the reader is naturally led to conclude, that he wrote the letter upon his arrival in Macedonia. Archdeacon Paley. (See the note from Bp. Tomline at the end of the First Epistle to the Corinthians.) Dr. Paley remarks, that “six of the subscriptions to St. Paul’s Epistles seem to be erroneous:” and he believes them “to have been conjectures founded sometimes upon loose traditions, but more generally upon a consideration of some particular text, without sufficiently comparing it with other parts of the Epistle, with different Epistles, or with the history.” The erroneous subscriptions are to 1 Cor.; Gal.; 1 Thess.; 2 Thess.; 1 Tim.; and Titus. Each separate error is not noticed in its place: but the reader may correct them all, except this to 1 Tim. by comparing the particular subscription with the Introduction prefixed to the Epistle.