1 Timothy 6:8

8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

1 Timothy 6:8 in Other Translations

KJV
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
ESV
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
NLT
8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
MSG
8 if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
CSB
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

1 Timothy 6:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Timothy 6:8

And having food and raiment
"Food" includes all things necessary to be ate and drank, of which there is a great variety, and is here expressed in the plural number; and "raiment" every necessary covering, as the word used signifies, and includes an habitation, which is a cover and shelter from the inclementencies of the weather. And now having all these comforts and necessaries of life, food to eat, and drink to extinguish thirst and refresh, raiment to put on, and a house to dwell in,

let us be therewith content:
there is very good reason why the saints should be content; since more than these things cannot be enjoyed; and these they have with a blessing, and as a fruit and token of the love of God to them; these were all that Jacob desired, Agur petitioned for, and Christ directs his disciples daily to pray for; and which to have, is to have enough, a proper sufficiency and competency: the words may be rendered, "we shall be content with them"; which the apostle could say for himself, Timothy, and others, who had been content, even when they wanted these things. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, "we are content"; and the Syriac version, "food and raiment are sufficient for us"; and so the apostle sets himself, and others, as examples of contentment to be imitated and followed.

1 Timothy 6:8 In-Context

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Proverbs 30:8; Hebrews 13:5
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