I Timothy 6

I Timothy 6:2-6:
These are the things you are to teach and insist on.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

If someone is advocating a doctrine (teaching) that is different than those Jesus taught, then they are conceited and understand nothing; and they have a morbid interest in controversy and disputes.
They stir up envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions and cause constant friction.
They do this because their false sense of godliness is seen as a means of gain; but in reality, godliness is gain, and is accompanied by contentment (because a true follower of Jesus knows that this life is not all there is, but our eternal life is the prize we set our eye on). -Truth Faith & Reason

I Timothy 6:7-10:
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This secret to happiness is not a new one. Centuries ago, puritan Jeremiah Burroughs (1599–1646) wrote in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment that “A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition, as by way of subtraction” . He meant that the Christian achieves happiness not by adding more to life to satisfy his gaping desires, but instead by subtracting from his desires, bringing them down to the situation God has placed him.
Paul practiced this when he sought to curb young Timothy’s desires for money, reasoning that we come into the world and leave it with nothing and that many have apostatized by this love. The apostle gives us a window into his own happiness, saying, “If we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:8). With just the basics of what we need for an adequate human existence, Paul will find what many kings with lavish palaces could not: contentment. -Greg Morse ; Desiring God

1 Timothy 6:5-11:
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

This exhortation applies mostly to our thought life. If we want to come to divine nature, then we must be faithful in our thought life. If we are dwelling on a temptation, we are not fleeing! When we dwell on a temptation, we love our lusts, and that means that we are under the law and serve in the oldness of the letter. When we put our lusts to death, we serve in the newness of the Spirit. (Romans 7:6; Romans 8:3) That is the same as hating the corruption that comes from the flesh. That leads to divine nature! We cannot live this life unless we stand before God’s face and zealously serve in the newness of the Spirit.
-Sigurd Bratlie; Active Christianity

1 Timothy 6:12:
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

THis advice was important because a religion that the Romans thought might incite slave discontent would immediately be labeled subversive and subjected to outright persecution; Paul wants the slaves who are Christian, as well as free Christians, to engage in a culturally relevant and intelligent witness."
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

To fight the good fight of faith means to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness" ( 1 Timothy 6:11). It also means to stay true to God and His word in the face of opposition, oppression, and adversity. To fight the good fight of faith entails unwavering commitment to the cause of God in the face of of hostility from both believers (the church) and nonbelievers (the world). -Deep Things of God

To fight the good fight of faith, you must have discernment to recognize and reject false doctrines. Paul warns Timothy (v. 3-5) to reject teachings that contradict Jesus and the apostles. According to Paul, these false teachings were contrary to the "words of Jesus Christ" and the "teaching that accords with godliness." (v. 3) According to Paul, these beliefs thrive on a "unhealthy craving for controversy and friction among people." Paul believed that such divisive teachings "produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions" and foster the notion that "that godliness is a means of gain" (v. 4,5).

The lesson you should take away from Paul's admonition to Timothy is that you must actively reject errors and controversies. As a result, you must be firmly established and grounded in God's written word in order to recognize and reject error. Fighting errors and falsehood is fighting a good fight of faith. --Deep Thoughts of God

To fight the good fight of faith, you must have discernment to recognize and reject false doctrines. Paul warns Timothy (v. 3-5) to reject teachings that contradict Jesus and the apostles. According to Paul, these false teachings were contrary to the "words of Jesus Christ" and the "teaching that accords with godliness." (v. 3) According to Paul, these beliefs thrive on a "unhealthy craving for controversy and friction among people." Paul believed that such divisive teachings "produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions" and foster the notion that "that godliness is a means of gain" (v. 4,5).
The lesson you should take away from Paul's admonition to Timothy is that you must actively reject errors and controversies. As a result, you must be firmly established and grounded in God's written word in order to recognize and reject error. Fighting errors and falsehood is fighting a good fight of faith.
The Deep Things of God

1 Timothy 6:17-19 :
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”

There is no requirement for the rich to divest themselves of wealth. In fact, the wealthy are instructed to enjoy their possessions. But they are also instructed to do good with it, sharing and helping others. The opposite of hoarding. By doing so they are making an eternal investment, laying up treasure in heaven

I Timothy 6:20-21:
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge” — which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.

The Greek word for “guard” is phylasso. It has the idea “to protect.” That is, Timothy was to protect something that Paul said was entrusted to him. But what was entrusted to Timothy? The word “entrusted” gives us the answer. The Greek word for “entrusted” is paratheke., and A. T. Robertsons says it was a banking term. The word referred to the deposit of one’s money or treasure in a bank.[1] That is, Timothy was to protect the treasure called the Scriptures. He was and we are to be protecting the most valuable treasure on earth, called the Scriptures, against the errors of the false teachers. -Never Thirsty