1 Timothy 6:9

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. WILL BE RICH, [ boulomenoi (G1014)] - 'wish to be rich;' to have more than "food and raiment;" not merely willing, but resolved, and earnestly desiring riches at any cost (Proverbs 28:20; Proverbs 28:22). This wishing (not the riches themselves) is fatal to "contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6). Rich men are not told to cast away, but not to "trust" in their riches, and to "do good" with them ...

9_They who wish to be rich _After having exhorted him to be content, and to despise riches, he now explains how dangerous is the desire of having them, and especially in the ministers of the Church, of whom he expressly speaks in this passage. Now the cause of the evils, which the Apostle here enumerates, is not riches, but an eager desire of them, even though the person should be poor. And here Paul shews not only what generally happens, but what must always happen; for every man that has resolved to become rich gives himself up as a captive to the devil. Most true is that saying of the heathen poet, — “He who is desirous of becoming rich is also desirous of acquiring riches soon.” (123) Hence it follows, that all who are violently desirous of acquiring wealth rush headlong. Hence also those _foolish, _or rather, _mad desires, which _at length _plunge them into perdition_. This is, inde...

6-10 Those that make a trade of Christianity to serve their turn for this world, will be disappointed; but those who mind it as their calling, will find it has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content. We see here the evil of covetousness. It is not said, they that are rich, but they will be rich; who place their happin...

Verse 9. _BUT THEY THAT WILL BE RICH_] οι δε βουλομενοι πλουτειν. The words are _emphatic_, and refer to persons who are _determined_ to get riches; who make this their _object_ and _aim_ in life; who live to get money; who get all they can, save all they can, and keep all they get; and yet are apprehensive of no danger, because they seek to be rich by _honest means_; for it is likely that the apostle does not refer to those who wish to get riches by _robbery, plunder, extortion_, c. By the term _rich_ it is very likely that the apostle refers to what he had said above: _Having food and raiment, let us be_ _therewith content_. He that has more than these is _rich_ in the sense in which the apostle uses the term. _FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE_] του διαβολου, _Of the devil_, is added by D*FG, _Vulgate, Itala_, and many of the _fathers_. It is in conseque

BUT THEY THAT WILL BE RICH - Further to enforce the duty of contentment, the apostle refers to some of the evils which necessarily attend a desire to be rich. Those evils have been so great and uniform in all ages, and are so necessary accompaniments of that desire, that, even amidst many inconveniences which may attend the opposite condition, we should he contented with our lot. Indeed, if we could see all, it would only be necessary to see the evils which the desire of wealth produces in the world, to make us contented with a most lowly condition of life. Perhaps nothing more would be necessary to make a poor man satisfied with his lot, and grateful for it, than to be acquainted with the perplexities and cares of a rich man. There is more emphasis to be placed on the word will, here, in the phrase, “will be rich,” than might be supposed from our translation. It is not the sign of the f...

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 6:1 _Are servants _for _servants as are_,_ _A.V.;_ the doctrine _for _his doctrine_,_ _A.V. SERVANTS; literally, _slaves_._ _That slaves formed a considerable portion of the first Christian Churches may be inferred from the frequency with which their duties are pressed upon them (see 1 Corinthians 7:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:11,...

BUT THEY THAT WILL BE RICH,.... Not they that are rich; for some rich men are good men; and do much good with their riches; and are as free from temptations and snares, and foolish and hurtful lusts, as other persons, as Abraham, Joseph of Arimathea, Gaius, and others were; but such that would be rich, who labour after, make haste for it, and are resolved upon it, at any rate, right or wrong, as there be thousands, who never attain to it; so that the apostle does not point at rich men particularly, but at such who are determined to be rich, whether they ever are so or not: these FALL INTO TEMPTATION; not in such sense in which the phrase is used in James 1:2 but in such sense as Christ uses it, Matthew 6:13 namely, a falling into temptation to sin, so as to be drawn away by it, and overcome with

1 TIMOTHY 6:9 pagi,da {A} After pagi,da several Western witnesses (D* F G itar, b, d, f, o) insert tou/ diabo,lou, derived from 1 Timothy 3:7....

CHAPTER 6 _ 1. Concerning servants (1 Timothy 6:1)_ 2. Concerning those who oppose (1 Timothy 6:3) 3. Concerning contentment and temptation (1 Timothy 6:6) 4. The final exhortations (1 Timothy 6:11) 1 Timothy 6:1 Servants (slaves) who had pagan masters were to count them worthy of all honor, and thus bear a good testimony for the truth, that the Name of God and the teaching be not blasphemed. Theirs was a blessed opportunity to show forth the excellencies of Him whom they served, and who once served

1 Timothy 6:2 _B_ - 1 TIMOTHY 6:21. FINAL WORDS. (_a_) 1 Timothy 6:2 _B_ - 1 TIMOTHY 6:10. THE ERRORISTS, AND A FUNDAMENTAL ERROR. Such, then, is Paul's charge. Those who teach otherwise are conceited and ignorant, morbidly busying themselves with wordy controversy. From these, among other evils, one crucial error proceeds the theory that religion is a means of worldly profit (_cf._ Titus 1:11). Now even in this life religion _is_ of great profit_ i.e._ profit in terms of true happiness if accompanied by entire