The Meaning of 1 Timothy 6:21 Explained

1 Timothy 6:21

KJV: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

YLT: which certain professing -- concerning the faith did swerve; the grace is with you. Amen.

Darby: of which some having made profession, have missed the faith. Grace be with thee.

ASV: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Which  some  professing  have erred  concerning  the faith.  Grace  [be] with  thee.  Amen.  {{The first to  Timothy  was written  from  Laodicea,  which  is  the chiefest city  of Phrygia  Pacatiana.  }} 

What does 1 Timothy 6:21 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Timothy 6:11-21 - "fight The Good Fight Of The Faith"
The poor need not envy the rich. Wealth makes no difference in the audit of eternity. A man cannot eat more than a certain amount of food, and wear more than a certain amount of clothing. If we have enough why envy others? The true wealth of life is in self-renunciation and beneficence. How different from the money-grabber is the man of God who flees such things, and follows after righteousness, who fights the good fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and who never flinches from witnessing the good witness. If we suffer here with Jesus, we shall share in the glory of His manifestation. Notice the wealth of the Apostle's ascription to Jesus! Here is life in its spring, light at its source, power and authority in their original fountain. Let us claim these blessings and enthrone them in our lives.
The charge to the rich is eminently sound. We must set our hope not on the attainment of fleeting things, but in God who loves to give and see His children happy. We hold all that we have, that we may be God's channels of communication to others. What we hoard we lose, what we give away we store. The life which is life indeed can be acquired only through death and self-giving [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Timothy 6

1  Of the duty of servants
3  Not to have fellowship with newfangled teachers
6  Godliness is great gain;
10  and love of money the root of all evil
11  What Timothy is to flee, and what to follow
17  and whereof to admonish the rich
20  To keep the purity of true doctrine, and to avoid godless ideas

Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 6:21

Have erred [ηστοχησαν]
First aorist active indicative of αστοχεω — astocheō See note on 1 Timothy 1:6 for this word.sa120 [source]
Professing []
See on 1 Timothy 2:10. [source]
Erred [ἠστόχησαν]
See on 1 Timothy 1:6, and comp. 2 Timothy 2:18. [source]
Grace be with thee []
The correct reading is μεθ ' ὑμῶν withyou. Although addressed to an individual, he is included in the church. This brief benediction occurs in Paul only in Colossians. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 6:21

Romans 1:2 Had promised afore [προεπηγγείλατο]
Only here in the New Testament. Rev., He promised afore. Paul's Old Testament training is manifest. Naturally, in beginning the more precise description of the new revelation, he refers first to its connection with ancient prophecy. The verb ἐπαγγέλλομαι ; means more than to proclaim. It occurs frequently, and always in the sense of profess or promise. See Mark 14:11; Acts 7:5; 1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:21. [source]
Philippians 3:15 Toward the mark [κατὰ σκοπὸν]
Rev., goal. Bear down upon ( κατά ). Σκοπός markonly here in the New Testament. See on look, Phlippians 2:4. Used in the classics of a mark for shooting at, or as a moral or intellectual end. A somewhat similar figure occurs 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18, in the verb ἀστοχέω tomiss the aim or the shot. A.V., swerved and erred. [source]
Philippians 3:15 Toward the mark [κατὰ σκοπὸν]
Rev., goal. Bear down upon ( κατά ). Σκοπός markonly here in the New Testament. See on look, Phlippians 2:4. Used in the classics of a mark for shooting at, or as a moral or intellectual end. A somewhat similar figure occurs 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18, in the verb ἀστοχέω tomiss the aim or the shot. A.V., swerved and erred. [source]
Colossians 4:18 Grace be with you []
On the benedictions, see on 2 Corinthians 13:14. This short form occurs only here, 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22.sa40 [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:28 The grace [η χαρις]
Paul prefers this noble word to the customary ερρωστε — errōsthe (Farewell, Be strong). See 2 Thessalonians 3:18 for identical close save added παντων — pantōn (all). A bit shorter form in 1 Corinthians 16:23; Romans 16:20 and still shorter in Colossians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; Titus 3:15; 2 Timothy 4:22. The full Trinitarian benediction we find in 2 Corinthians 13:13.sa120 [source]
1 Timothy 1:3 Some [τισὶν]
Note the indefinite designation of the errorists, and comp. 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:24; 1 Timothy 6:21. The expression is contemptuous. It is assumed that Timothy knows who they are. This is after the Pauline manner. See Galatians 1:7; Galatians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Corinthians 3:1; Colossians 2:4, Colossians 2:8. [source]
1 Timothy 1:19 Concerning faith have made shipwreck [περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἐναυάγησαν]
Better, “concerning the faith made shipwreck.” For a similar use of περὶ concerningsee Acts 19:25; Luke 10:40; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:8. It is noteworthy that περὶ with the accusative occurs only once in Paul (Philemon 2:23). Ναυαγεῖν tomake shipwreck only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25. Nautical metaphors are rare in Paul's writings. [source]
1 Timothy 1:6 Having swerved [αστοχησαντες]
First aorist active participle of αστοχεω — astocheō compound Koiné{[28928]}š verb (Polybius, Plutarch) from αστοχος — astochos (α — a privative and στοχος — stochos a mark), “having missed the mark.” In N.T. only here, 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 2:18. With the ablative case ων — hōn (which). [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 The sound doctrine [τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ]
A phrase peculiar to the Pastorals. Ὑγιαίνειν tobe in good health, Luke 5:31; Luke 7:10; 3 John 1:2. oP. Quite frequent in lxx, and invariably in the literal sense. Often in salutations or dismissals. See 9:19; 2Samuel href="/desk/?q=2sa+14:8&sr=1">2 Samuel 14:8; Exodus 4:18. In the Pastorals, the verb, which occurs eight times, is six times associated with διδασκαλία teachingor λόγοι wordsand twice with ἐν τῇ πίστει or τῇ πίστει inthe faith. The sound teaching (comp. διδαχή teaching 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9) which is thus commended is Paul's, who teaches in Christ's name and by his authority (2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:8). In all the three letters it is called ἀλη.θεια or ἡ ἀλήθεια thetruth, the knowledge ( ἐπίγνωσις ) of which is bound up with salvation. See 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25; 2 Timothy 3:7; Titus 1:1. As truth it is sound or healthful. It is the object of faith. To be sound in the faith is, practically, to follow ( παρακολουθεῖν ) sound teaching or the truth. The subjective characteristic of Christians is εὐσέβεια or θεοσέβεια godlinessor piety (1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:7, 1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:6, 1 Timothy 6:11); and the teaching and knowledge of the truth are represented as κατ ' εὐσέβειαν accordingto godliness (1 Timothy 6:3; Titus 1:1). Comp. εὐσεβεῖν toshow piety, 1 Timothy 5:4. εὐσεβῶς ζῇν to live godly, 2 Timothy 3:12; Titus 2:12; and βίον διάγειν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ tolead a life in all godliness, 1 Timothy 2:2. The contents of this sound teaching which is according to godliness are not theoretical or dogmatic truth, but Christian ethics, with faith and love. See 1 Timothy 1:14; 1 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 3:10; Titus 2:2. Ἁλήθεια truthis used of moral things, rather than in the high religious sense of Paul. Comp., for instance, Romans 3:7; Romans 9:1; 1 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 11:10; Galatians 2:5; Ephesians 4:21, Ephesians 4:24; and 2 Timothy 2:25, 2 Timothy 2:26; 2 Timothy 3:7(comp. 2 Timothy 3:1-9); 2 Timothy 4:3, 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:12(comp. Titus 1:11, Titus 1:15); Titus 2:4(comp. Titus 2:1, Titus 2:3); Titus 3:1. Whoever grasps the truth has faith (2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:3f.). That the ethical character of faith is emphasized, appears from the numerous expressions regarding the false teachers, as 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Timothy 5:12; 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:21. There is a tendency to objectify faith, regarding it as something believed rather than as the act of believing. See 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:21; Titus 1:4. In comparing the ideal of righteousness (1 Timothy 1:9) with that of Paul, note that it is not denied that Christ is the source of true righteousness; but according to Paul, the man who is not under the law is the man who lives by faith in Christ. Paul emphasizes this. It is faith in Christ which sets one free from the law. Here, the man for whom the law is not made (1 Timothy 1:9) is the man who is ethically conformed to the norm of sound teaching. The two conceptions do not exclude each other: the sound teaching is according to the gospel (1 Timothy 1:11), but the point of emphasis is shifted.| [source]
2 Timothy 2:18 Have erred [ηστοχησαν]
“Missed the mark.” First aorist active indicative of αστοχεω — astocheō for which see note on 1 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:21. That the resurrection is past already (αναστασιν ηδη γεγονεναι — anastasin ēdē gegonenai). Second perfect active infinitive of γινομαι — ginomai in indirect assertion after λεγοντες — legontes (saying) with the accusative of general reference (αναστασιν — anastasin). Overthrow See note on Titus 1:11. [source]
Titus 2:7 In all things [περὶ πάντα]
Lit. concerning all things. The exact phrase, N.T.oFor analogous use of περὶ comp. Luke 10:40, Luke 10:41; Acts 19:25; 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:4, 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 3:8. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Timothy 6:21 mean?

which some professing from the faith have gone astray - Grace [be] with you all Amen
ἥν τινες ἐπαγγελλόμενοι περὶ τὴν πίστιν ἠστόχησαν χάρις μεθ’ ὑμῶν ⧼Ἀμήν⧽

τινες  some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἐπαγγελλόμενοι  professing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπαγγέλλομαι  
Sense: to announce that one is about to do or furnish something.
πίστιν  faith 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πίστις  
Sense: conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.
ἠστόχησαν  have  gone  astray 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀστοχέω  
Sense: to deviate from, miss (the mark).
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χάρις  Grace  [be] 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: χάρις  
Sense: grace.
ὑμῶν  you  all 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
⧼Ἀμήν⧽  Amen 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.