Bible Strands
1 Timothy 6:6
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus, correcting teachers who exploit godliness for profit (1 Timothy 6:5). The verse stands between their error and the reminder that we bring nothing into or out of the world (1 Timothy 6:7).
The words — Porismos (profit, gain) is the same word verse 5 uses for what false teachers extract from religion; here it is redefined as the gain that comes from godliness paired with autarkeia (contentment, self-sufficiency).
The thread — Hebrews 13:5 grounds contentment in God's promise not to forsake; Philippians 4:11 presents it as a learned discipline; 1 Timothy 6:8 narrows it to food and clothing.
Why it lands — It strips godliness of its commercial value and demands that a reader stop treating faith as an investment to be cashed out. The "great gain" is not more, but enough.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- 1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
- Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
- Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.
- Luke 12:31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.
- Proverbs 15:16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil.
- Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
- Psalms 37:16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
- Matthew 6:32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.