I Timothy Chapter VId

Biblical Translation: The Orthodox New Testament Vol. II., Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, CO, 1999

17Be commanding the rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to have hope in the uncertainty of riches but in the living God, Who grants us richly all things for enjoyment;

God is the author of everlasting wealth:
Chrysostom: “He has well said, ‘rich in the present age.’ For there are others rich in the future age. And this advice he gives, knowing that nothing so generally produces pride and arrogance as wealth. To abate this, therefore, he immediately adds, ‘Nor have hope in uncertain riches;’ since that was the source of pride; inasmuch as he who hopes in God, is not elated. Why do you place your hopes upon what is instantly transferable? For such is wealth and why do you hope on that which you cannot not be confident? But you say, how can they avoid being high-minded? By considering the instability and uncertainty of riches, and that hope in God is infinitely more valuable; God being the Author of wealth itself.”

The gifts of Life
Chrysostom: “This ‘richly all things’ is justly spoken, in reference to the changes of the year, to air, light, water, and other gifts. For how richly and ungrudgingly are all these bestowed! If you seek riches, seek those that are stable and enduring, and which are the fruit of good works. He shows that this is his meaning by what follows.”

18be commanding them to do good, to be rich in good works (deeds- RSV), to be ready to impart (liberal RSV), to be sociable (generous- RSV),

The Gospel of Love & Charity
Theophylact: “...The first phrase (verse17) refers to wealth, the second to charity....‘To be ready to impart’ (eujmetadovtou~ ei\vnai), this is in regard to money. Sociable (koinwnikouv~) refers to love, meaning that they be affable, conversable, kind.” [P.G. 125:588C (col. 85).]

Saint Chrysostom also says that “they are to be sociable and kind.”

19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the future, that they might lay hold of *eternal life (so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed -RSV),

The reward of loving others

Chrysostom: "That they may lay hold," he says, ‘on eternal life.’ For the doing of good works can secure the enjoyment of eternal life.”

  • "Eternal Life" a variant text which Chrysostom knew.

Virtues endures beyond the grave:
Chrysostom: “But it is not so with virtue, all things which pertain to her are permanent. Here (in this life), he who obtains glory from his office, upon another succeeding to his office, becomes a private man and inglorious. The rich man is reduced to poverty by the attack of robbers (stock market crash)… It is not so with Christians. The temperate man, if he take heed to himself, will not be robbed of his virtue. He who rules himself, cannot become a common man and a subject.”


Reigning Over The Passions:
Chrysostom: “For of what advantage, tell me, is it to reign over nations of our fellow-men, and to be the slaves of our own passions? Or are we the worse for having no one under our rule, if we are superior to the tyranny of the passions? That indeed is Freedom, that is Rule, that is Royalty and Sovereignty.”

The Slavery of the Passions:
Chrysostom: “The contrary is slavery, though a man be invested with countless crowns. For when a multitude of masters sway him from within, the love of money, the love of pleasure, and anger, and other passions, what avails his crown? The tyranny of those passions is more severe…he that submits to them, will suffer more severely than from barbarians…these passions torture the soul, and lacerate it all over... So that he alone is the free man, who has his freedom in himself; and he who submits to these unreasonable passions, is the slave.”


20O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to your care, turning yourself away from the profane and vain utterances and oppositions of that falsely-named knowledge,

The Deposit of the Faith belongs to the Church not a person
Chrysostom: “Let it not suffer reduction. It is not your own. You are entrusted with the property of another, do not lessen it.”


21which some professing for themselves missed the mark concerning the faith.

Saint Chrysostom: “Where there is not faith, there is not knowledge. Whenever anything is borne of our reasonings, it is not knowledge. Or perhaps he says this because some then assumed the name of Gnostics, as knowing more than others.”

Blessed Theophylact: “I think the apostle is speaking about those then who were called Gnostics, who filled up every uncleanness; wherefore he also calls these unhallowed ones idle and vain speakers. And of these heresies Nicholas was a front-ranking man, he who was one of the seven deacons [cf. Acts 6:5; Rev. 2:6, 15].”

Grace be with thee. Amen.

The Passion of Avarice -Greed
Chrysostom: “They say to him, in effect, ‘Disgrace thy soul without end or object,-offend thy God,-be deaf to the claims of nature; though it be thy father or thy mother, be not ashamed to set thyself against them.’ Such are the commands of avarice. . .Heap up gold, not that you may enjoy it, but that you may keep it, and work greater torture to thyself.’ …Though you see the poor man perishing with hunger, give him nothing; but strip him, if it be possible, even of his skin…God on the contrary says, Be a friend to all, be gentle, beloved by all, give offense causelessly to no one. "Honor thy father and thy mother." Win an honorable reputation. Be not a man, but an angel. Utter nothing immodest, nothing false, nor even think of it. Relieve the poor. Bring not trouble on thyself, by ravaging others. Be not bold nor insolent. God says this, but no one hearkens.”