1 Timothy 6:18
in 1 Timothy 6Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
KJV
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
⋯
This verse in 1 Timothy 6
Commentary
14 notes on this verseLet those who wish Christ to spare them, have mercy on the poor; let them give freely to feed the wretched, who desire to attain to the society of the blessed. Let no man consider his fellow vile, nor despise in any one that nature which the Creator of the world made His own. For who that labours can deny that Christ claims that labour as done unto Himself? Your fellow-slave is helped thereby, but it is the Lord who will repay.
This site's exposition
those who are rich in the present age
on 1 Timothy 6:17-19
The rich receive duties: not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. The verse blesses enjoyment while it breaks trust in wealth, and it turns their trade to be rich in good works.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Those who have given liberally of their riches have had great gains to compensate them for light losses. Their joy at what they assured for themselves more securely by readiness to give outweighed their sadness at the surrender of possessions they more easily lost because they clung to them fearfully. Reluctance to remove their goods from this world exposed them to the risk of loss. There were those who accepted the Lord's advice: "Do not store your treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Pile up treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Such people proved in the time of tribulation how wise they were in not despising the finest of advisers and the most faithful and unconquerable guardian of treasure.
"That they do good," he says, "that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute willing to communicate." The first phrase refers to wealth, the second to charity. For to be willing to communicate, implies that they are sociable and kind.
Whenever we talk about contempt for riches, some rich man replies to me: I have learned not to hope in the uncertainty of riches; I do not want to be rich, lest I fall into temptation; but since I am rich already, what am I …
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may obtain eternal life. to do good, to be rich in good works. If you seek …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, do good, he instructs him to achieve what is good. But those whose love is beamed on riches, strive, first of all, to acquire them; second, to use them, once they are possessed; third, to obtain the end of riches. These …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
From the general instruction "exhort" them "to do good" the following also follows: if you wish to become rich, become rich in doing good. This refers to money. This refers to love. By sociable, understand talkative, affable people. …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
To do good - To make this their daily employ, that they may be rich - May abound in all good works. Ready to distribute - Singly to particular persons.
That they do good,....
Our apostle concludes with a solemn prayer and benediction: Grace be with thee. Observe, this is a short, yet comprehensive prayer for our friends, for grace comprehends in it all that is good, and grace is an earnest, yea, a beginning, of glory; for, wherever God gives grace, he will give glory, and will not withhold any good thing from him who walketh uprightly.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
That they do good - That they relieve the wants of their fellow creatures, according to the abundance which God has given them. The highest luxury a human being can enjoy on this side of the grave. Rich in good works - That their good works may be as abundant as their riches. Ready to distribute - Ευμεταδοτους ειναι· That they give nothing through partiality or favor, but be guided in their distribution by the necessities of the objects presented to them; and that they confine not their charity at home, but scatter it abroad.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
do good--like God Himself (Ps 119:68; Ac 14:17) and Christ (Ac 10:38). TITTMANN translates, "to do," or "act well"; as the Greek for "to be beneficent" is a distinct word, agathopoiein. rich in good works--so "rich in faith," which produces good works (Jas 2:5).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That they do good - On the duty enjoined in this verse, see Gal 6:10 note; Heb 13:10 note. That they be rich in good works - “That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.” Ready to distribute - To divide with others; compare Act 4:34. The meaning is, that they should be liberal, or bountiful. Willing to communicate - Margin, or “sociable.” The translation in the text is a more correct rendering of the Greek. The idea is, that they should be willing to share their blessings with others, so as to make others comfortable; see the notes on Heb 13:16; compare the argument of Paul in 2Co 8:13-15, and the notes on that passage.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀγαθοεργεῖν, | agathoergein | to do good, | G14 → | |
| πλουτεῖν | ploutein | to be rich | G4147 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἔργοις | ergois | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| καλοῖς, | kalois | good, | G2570 → | 101 times |
| εὐμεταδότους | eumetadotous | generous in distributing | G2130 → | |
| εἶναι, | einai | to be, | G1511 → | 123 times |
| κοινωνικούς, | koinonikous | ready to share, | G2843 → |
ἀγαθοεργεῖν,to do good,
agathoergeinG14 →
πλουτεῖνto be rich
plouteinG4147 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἔργοιςworks
ergoisG2041 →168 times
καλοῖς,good,
kaloisG2570 →101 times
εὐμεταδότουςgenerous in distributing
eumetadotousG2130 →
εἶναι,to be,
einaiG1511 →123 times
κοινωνικούς,ready to share,
koinonikousG2843 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 37:3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
- Matthew 6:31–33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- Psalms 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
- Jeremiah 17:7–8
Through
1 John 3:17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:16
Through
Hebrews 13:16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
- Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Galatians 6:10
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, City of God 1.10.2; Caesarius of Arles, SERMONS 182.2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 18; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Leo the Great, SERMONS 9.2; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.