1 Timothy 6:18

Simplified Cowboy Version

Rich folks should use their money to do good things. True riches come from doing good things, not having lots of money. Tell them to be generous to those without.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,

King James Version (1611)
That they doe good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

King James Version
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

English Standard Version
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

New American Standard Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

New Century Version
Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Legacy Standard Bible
Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Berean Standard Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

Contemporary English Version
Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.

Complete Jewish Bible
Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.

Darby Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal in distributing, disposed to communicate [of their substance],

Easy-to-Read Version
Tell those who are rich to do good—to be rich in good works. And tell them they should be happy to give and ready to share.

Geneva Bible (1587)
That they doe good, and be riche in good woorkes, & readie to distribute, and comunicate,

George Lamsa Translation
That they do good works, and become rich in good deeds, and be ready to give and willing to share,

Good News Translation
Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others.

Lexham English Bible
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely,

Literal Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to share, generous,

Amplified Bible
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].

American Standard Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Bible in Basic English
And to do good, having wealth in good works, being quick to give, taking part with one another;

Hebrew Names Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

International Standard Version
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and to share.Luke 12:21; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and that they perform good works, and become rich in welldoings, and be ready to give and to communicate,

Murdock Translation
and that they do good works, and be rich in well-doings; and be ready to give and to communicate:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That they do good, that they be riche in good workes, that they be redye to geue, glad to distribute:

English Revised Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

World English Bible
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate,

Weymouth's New Testament
They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
to do wel, to be maad riche in good werkis, liytli to yyue,

Update Bible Version
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

Webster's Bible Translation
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

New English Translation
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

New King James Version
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

New Living Translation
Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

New Life Bible
Tell them to do good and be rich in good works. They should give much to those in need and be ready to share.

New Revised Standard
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
To be doing good, to be rich in noble works, to be, generous in giving, ready for fellowship, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
To do good, to be rich in good work, to give easily, to communicate to others,

Revised Standard Version
They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and that they do good and be ryche in good workes and redy to geve and to distribute

Young's Literal Translation
to do good, to be rich in good works, to be ready to impart, willing to communicate,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
That they do good: that they be rich in good workes: that they geue and distribute with a good wyll:

Mace New Testament (1729)
to be beneficent, to be rich in good works, to be liberal to the common fund,

Contextual Overview

¹³I'm calling you out in front of everyone, and even before Jesus Christ, who offered Pontius Pilate the grace he didn't deserve, ¹⁴that you ride like a real cowboy should in all situations, not just the easy trails. Then, no one will be able to find fault in anything you do. Stay this way until Jesus rides back over the hill to get us all. ¹⁵The Boss is already saddled up and ready to come get us. He won't be a minute early or a minute too late. He's going to show up right when God, the Real Boss, High King, the Almighty God tells him to. ¹⁶He's the only one who cannot see the noose placed around his neck. The light within him shines so bright that no mortal can even look at him, much less get close to him. Every honor and glory belongs to him and him alone. Amen. ¹⁷If a cowboy is rich, tell him not to think of himself as superior to any other cowboy. Money can come and go like a leaf in the wind. Teach him to trust only in God, not the things of this world. God will, and does, provide everything of importance we need to enjoy life. ¹⁸Rich folks should use their money to do good things. True riches come from doing good things, not having lots of money. Tell them to be generous to those without. ¹⁹By doing these things, they will be making deposits in heaven. Their good deeds will be the foundation of their eternal lives. It's in eternity that their true life will be revealed. ²⁰Timothy, protect the duty God has given you. Yes, people are going to argue with you and start fights, but don't fall for the bait. They may seem smart, but their wisdom is like mud stuck in a horse's hoof. ²¹There are many who've wandered off the trail of life by behaving like fools.Ride with God's grace, every one of you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they do: 2 Chronicles 24:16, Psalms 37:3, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Luke 6:33-35, Acts 10:38, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 13:16, 1 Peter 3:11, 3 John 1:11

rich: 1 Timothy 5:10, Luke 12:21, Acts 9:36, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, James 2:5

ready: Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Psalms 112:9, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 11:25, Ecclesiastes 11:1, Ecclesiastes 11:2, Ecclesiastes 11:6, Isaiah 32:8, Isaiah 58:7, Luke 6:35, Luke 14:12-14, Acts 2:44, Acts 2:45, Acts 4:34-37, Acts 11:29, Romans 12:8, Romans 12:13, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 8:2, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Philippians 4:18, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:17

willing to communicate: or, sociable

Reciprocal: Numbers 21:18 - princes Deuteronomy 15:10 - thine heart Deuteronomy 26:11 - rejoice 1 Chronicles 29:22 - eat and drink 2 Chronicles 32:29 - God Nehemiah 3:5 - their nobles Nehemiah 8:10 - Go your way Psalms 65:9 - thou preparest Proverbs 3:28 - General Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye Proverbs 27:24 - For Matthew 5:16 - that Matthew 6:2 - when Matthew 25:16 - went Mark 14:6 - a good Luke 3:11 - He that hath two Luke 16:9 - into Luke 18:22 - sell Luke 19:8 - Behold John 5:29 - done good 1 Corinthians 7:31 - use 2 Corinthians 6:10 - making 2 Corinthians 8:10 - expedient 2 Corinthians 9:11 - enriched Ephesians 2:10 - good Ephesians 4:28 - give Philippians 4:14 - ye did Hebrews 6:10 - which Hebrews 10:24 - love Revelation 2:9 - thou art Revelation 3:18 - that thou

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:7
It was by a heapin' of faith that Noah built him a big boat for his family to ride out the storm that wiped everyone else out. It was as simple as listening to God and doing what he said—even though no one had even heard of such a thing happening before. Noah's faith was the dividing line between who was saved and who was lost.

1 Peter 3:20
I'm talking about those who scoffed at Noah while he built his boat. Only eight folks survived the flood and the rest drowned like rats.

2 Peter 2:5
God got so fed up with our ancient ancestors that he destroyed the whole world with a flood. Only Noah and seven others were saved. Noah was a cowboy who urged righteous living and practiced what he preached.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That they do good,.... Rich men sometimes do much ill to themselves, to the hurt of their bodies, by luxury, intemperance, and debauchery, and to their souls, to the ruin of them; and to others by fraud, oppression, and violence; for it is in the power of their hands to do much evil, and also to do much good, as they should; and much is required of them, since much is given them to do good with, and for which they are accountable: it becomes them, and especially such as believe in Christ, to do every good work in general, and to do acts of beneficence in particular, both to all men, and to the household of faith.

That they be rich in good works; or abound in the performance of them, as Dorcas is said to be full of good works and alms deeds; and to reckon that their true riches lie more in the exercise of grace, and in the fruits of it, doing good works, than in their worldly enjoyments. The phrase seems to be Rabbinical. Frequent mention is made of עשיר בתורה, "rich in the law", and עשיר במצות, "rich in the commandments" t; and it is said u, no man is poor but he that is without the law, and good works, for the riches of a man are the law, and good works.

Ready to distribute; unasked; and when they are asked, do not turn away, and put off, but give at once, and without grief, and with cheerfulness; want no arguments to press them to it, nor use any against it.

Willing to communicate; of their good things to the necessities of the poor, making them common to them, and them partakers of them. Some render the word "sociable", in opposition to that moroseness, stillness, and those haughty and forbidding airs, with which rich men are apt to treat the poor, when they should be affable and courteous to them, and admit them to a free conversation with them.

t Zohar in Numb. fol. 91. 3. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 34. fol. 173. 4. & Tzeror Hammaor, fol. 15. 2. u Raya Mehimna in Exod. fol 48. 3. Vid. T. Bab. Megilia, fol. 11. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That they do good - On the duty enjoined in this verse, see Galatians 6:10 note; Hebrews 13:10 note.

That they be rich in good works - “That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.”

Ready to distribute - To divide with others; compare Acts 4:34. The meaning is, that they should be liberal, or bountiful.

Willing to communicate - Margin, or “sociable.” The translation in the text is a more correct rendering of the Greek. The idea is, that they should be willing to share their blessings with others, so as to make others comfortable; see the notes on Hebrews 13:16; compare the argument of Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, and the notes on that passage.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. That they do good — That they relieve the wants of their fellow creatures, according to the abundance which God has given them. The highest luxury a human being can enjoy on this side of the grave.

Rich in good works — That their good works may be as abundant as their riches.

Ready to distribute — ευμεταδοτους ειναι. That they give nothing through partiality or favour, but be guided in their distribution by the necessities of the objects presented to them; and that they confine not their charity at home, but scatter it abroad.

Willing to communicate — κοινωνικους. Bringing every poor person into a state of fellowship with themselves.