The Meaning of 1 Timothy 6:8 Explained

1 Timothy 6:8

KJV: And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

YLT: but having food and raiment -- with these we shall suffice ourselves;

Darby: But having sustenance and covering, we will be content with these.

ASV: but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  having  food  and  raiment  let us be  therewith  content. 

What does 1 Timothy 6:8 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Timothy 6:1-10 - Godliness Is True Gain
The Apostle gives rules for the treatment of the slaves who rendered service in the households of that time. If the slave was in the household of a heathen master, he must honor and glorify Christ by being respectful and obedient; but if the master was a Christian, and therefore a brother in the Lord, he was still required to yield courteous and willing service. Service rendered for the love of God must not be inferior to that rendered from fear of man.
There were many false teachers in the early Church, the chief aim of whom was to make money. They were proud and distempered, jealous and suspicious, juggling with words and given to splitting hairs. Godliness truly is great gain. It makes us content with what we have, and it opens to us stores of blessedness which the wealth of a Croesus could not buy. It is good to have just what is necessary. More than that breeds anxiety. Let us leave the provision for our needs with God. He is pledged to give food and covering, the latter including shelter. Not money, but the love of it opens the sluices and floodgates of the soul, through which wash the destroying waters of passion that drown men in destruction and perdition. Remember that you can carry nothing out of this world except your character. [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 6:8

Food [διατροπας]
Plural, supports or nourishments (from διατρεπω — diatrephō to support). Old word, here only in N.T. [source]
Covering [σκεπασματα]
Plural, “coverings.” Late word from σκεπαζω — skepazō to cover. Here only in N.T. We shall be content (αρκεστησομετα — arkesthēsometha). First future passive of αρκεω — arkeō to be content. Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 12:9. This is the αυταρκεια — autarkeia of 1 Timothy 6:6. There with Associative instrumental case, “with these.” [source]
We shall be content [αρκεστησομετα]
First future passive of αρκεω — arkeō to be content. Old word. See note on 2 Corinthians 12:9. This is the αυταρκεια — autarkeia of 1 Timothy 6:6. [source]
There with [τουτοις]
Associative instrumental case, “with these.” [source]
Food [διατροφὰς]
N.T.oRaiment ( σκεπάσματα )N.T.oolxx. It means covering generally, though the reference is probably to clothing. von Soden aptly remarks that a dwelling is not a question of life with an Oriental. [source]
N.T.o Raiment [σκεπάσματα]
N.T.oolxx. It means covering generally, though the reference is probably to clothing. von Soden aptly remarks that a dwelling is not a question of life with an Oriental. [source]
Let us be content [ἀρκεσθησόμεθα]
More correctly, we shall be content. Once in Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9. A few times in lxx. Comp. Ps. of Song of Solomon 16:12: “But with good will and cheerfulness uphold thou my soul; when thou strengthenest my soul I shall be satisfied ( ἀρκέσει μοι ) with what thou givest me.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 6:8

Hebrews 13:5 Be content with such things as ye have [ἀρκούμενοι τοῖς παροῦσιν]
Lit. being contented with the things which are at hand. For ἀρκεῖν tosuffice, see Luke 3:14; John 6:7; 1 Timothy 6:8. On the compounds αὐτάρκης self-sufficientand αὐτάρκεια self-sufficiencysee on 2 Corinthians 9:8; see on Philemon 4:11. [source]
3 John 1:10 I will bring to remembrance [υπομνησω]
Future active indicative of υπομιμνησκω — hupomimnēskō old compound (John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:12). The aged apostle is not afraid of Diotrephes and here defies him.Which he doeth (α ποιει — ha poiei). Present active indicative, “which he keeps on doing.”Prating against us Present active participle of old verb (from πλυαρος — phluaros babbling 1 Timothy 5:13), to accuse idly and so falsely, here only in N.T. with accusative ημας — hēmās (us).With wicked words (λογοις πονηροις — logois ponērois). Instrumental case. Not simply foolish chatter, but malevolent words.Not content Present passive participle of αρκεω — arkeō with usual negative μη — mē For this verb in this sense see 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5, only there επι — epi is absent. John knows that the conduct of Diotrephes will not stand the light. See Paul‘s threats of exposure (1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Corinthians 13:1-3). And John is the apostle of love all the same.He himself (αυτος — autos). That was bad enough.Them that would “Those willing or wishing or receive the brethren” from John.He forbiddeth (κωλυει — kōluei). “He hinders.” Present active indicative of κωλυω — kōluō and means either actual success in one case (punctiliar use of the present indicative) or repetition in several instances (linear action) or conative action attempted, but not successful as in Matthew 3:14 (this same verb) and John 10:32.Casteth them out of the church Here again εκβαλλει — ekballei can be understood in various ways, like κωλυει — kōluei This verb occurs in John 2:15 for casting out of the temple the profaners of it and for casting the blind man out of the synagogue (John 9:34.). If this ancient “church-boss” did not succeed in expelling John‘s adherents from the church, he certainly tried to do it. [source]
3 John 1:10 Prating against us [πλυαρων ημας]
Present active participle of old verb (from πλυαρος — phluaros babbling 1 Timothy 5:13), to accuse idly and so falsely, here only in N.T. with accusative ημας — hēmās (us).With wicked words (λογοις πονηροις — logois ponērois). Instrumental case. Not simply foolish chatter, but malevolent words.Not content Present passive participle of αρκεω — arkeō with usual negative μη — mē For this verb in this sense see 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5, only there επι — epi is absent. John knows that the conduct of Diotrephes will not stand the light. See Paul‘s threats of exposure (1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Corinthians 13:1-3). And John is the apostle of love all the same.He himself (αυτος — autos). That was bad enough.Them that would “Those willing or wishing or receive the brethren” from John.He forbiddeth (κωλυει — kōluei). “He hinders.” Present active indicative of κωλυω — kōluō and means either actual success in one case (punctiliar use of the present indicative) or repetition in several instances (linear action) or conative action attempted, but not successful as in Matthew 3:14 (this same verb) and John 10:32.Casteth them out of the church Here again εκβαλλει — ekballei can be understood in various ways, like κωλυει — kōluei This verb occurs in John 2:15 for casting out of the temple the profaners of it and for casting the blind man out of the synagogue (John 9:34.). If this ancient “church-boss” did not succeed in expelling John‘s adherents from the church, he certainly tried to do it. [source]
3 John 1:10 Not content [μη αρκουμενος]
Present passive participle of αρκεω — arkeō with usual negative μη — mē For this verb in this sense see 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5, only there επι — epi is absent. John knows that the conduct of Diotrephes will not stand the light. See Paul‘s threats of exposure (1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Corinthians 13:1-3). And John is the apostle of love all the same.He himself (αυτος — autos). That was bad enough.Them that would “Those willing or wishing or receive the brethren” from John.He forbiddeth (κωλυει — kōluei). “He hinders.” Present active indicative of κωλυω — kōluō and means either actual success in one case (punctiliar use of the present indicative) or repetition in several instances (linear action) or conative action attempted, but not successful as in Matthew 3:14 (this same verb) and John 10:32.Casteth them out of the church Here again εκβαλλει — ekballei can be understood in various ways, like κωλυει — kōluei This verb occurs in John 2:15 for casting out of the temple the profaners of it and for casting the blind man out of the synagogue (John 9:34.). If this ancient “church-boss” did not succeed in expelling John‘s adherents from the church, he certainly tried to do it. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Timothy 6:8 mean?

Having however sustenance and coverings with these we will be content
ἔχοντες δὲ διατροφὰς καὶ σκεπάσματα τούτοις ἀρκεσθησόμεθα

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
διατροφὰς  sustenance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: διατροφή  
Sense: sustenance.
σκεπάσματα  coverings 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σκέπασμα  
Sense: a covering, spec.
τούτοις  with  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀρκεσθησόμεθα  we  will  be  content 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἀρκέω  
Sense: to be possessed of unfailing strength.