Bible Phrasing: 1 Timothy 6:17–19

In 1 Timothy 6:17–19, Paul frames commands to the "rich" in two epochs of time: the present age (v 17) and the future (vv 18-19). 

Living in the present age (what not to do)

Paul's instruction first takes into account how the rich should live in the present age. There are two negative charges and a contrastive statement about where they should set their hopes. 

First, Paul tasks Timothy with charging the rich not to be haughty. The infinitive ὑψηλοφρονεῖν occurs only in this verse. The compound word is a combination of ὑψηλός and φρονέω and literally means "high-minded." Paul uses these two exact words in such close proximity in only one other letter, his magnum opus to the Romans. There he tells the Romans: 

12:16 τὸ αὐτὸ εἰς ἀλλήλους φρονοῦντες, μὴ τὰ ὑψηλὰ φρονοῦντες, ἀλλὰ τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συναπαγόμενοι. μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς. 

12:16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Paul's concern in Romans 12:16 is about association (συναπαγόμενοι) with the humble (ταπεινοῖς). ταπεινοῖς has mixed usage in the New Testament, referring sometimes to material poverty or to metaphorical, spiritual humility. The latter is probably what Paul has in mind in Romans 12:16, since humility, and not material poverty, is the foundation of harmony among people. Furthermore, humility provides a check on the human spirit to look outside the self toward God for wisdom. 

In Philippians 2:5, Paul reminds the Philippians Christians about the mindset that God has given them through Christ. The mindset (φρονεῖτε) that is at the disposal of all Christians is the one that lets "each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Later in the letter, Paul reminds the Philippians of their duty to strive toward the upward call of Christ in all facets of their lives. He asserts that such a mindset is a mark of Christian maturity (3:15). Those who do not have this mindset and fail to pursue Christ's upward call "walk as enemies of the cross of Christ" (3:18). Their minds are set on earthly things (3:19) resulting in Paul's condemnation of those who walk as enemies of Christ:  "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."

These three passages help fill out the meaning of "haughty" in 1 Timothy 6:17: Timothy is to charge the rich not to be so high-minded that they fail to grow in holiness, maturity, and selflessness, resulting in self-interest, pride, and earthly-mindedness; such a mindset prevents the rich from walking as faithful followers of Christ. 

Second, Paul tasks Timothy with charging the rich not to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches. As mentioned earlier, the desire for money, or moreover, the desire for what money can buy, is not a certain (δῆλος) wager for the rich. 

The alternative solution is for the rich to set their hopes on God. That is because God richly provides everything to enjoy. Earlier, in 1 Timothy 4, Paul explained that God was the source of wonderful blessings like food and marriage. Here, he reiterates the point that God is a provider and that he wants his people to enjoy everything he provides. In other words, a proper view of God can set the minds of the wealthy right and set them on a pathway of certainty. 

Living for the future (What to do)

Paul's coaching for Timothy takes an abrupt shift to positive charges for the rich in verse 18. The charges here are still connected to the imperative παράγγελλε in verse 17. There are four qualities that Paul charges them:

    1) to do good (ἀγαθοεργεῖν)

    2) to be rich in good works (πλουτεῖν ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς)

    3) to be generous (εὐμεταδότους εἶναι)

    4) to share (κοινωνικούς)

Each of the qualities Paul expects for the rich to embrace reflect something about the very nature of God's character. For instance, Paul expects the rich to be rich in good works, a quality that mimics God in verse 17 (Θεῷ τῷ παρέχοντι ἡμῖν πάντα πλουσίως εἰς ἀπόλαυσιν). Similarly, the ἀγαθοεργεῖν quality comes from God himself, who is by essence good (Acts 14:17). Generosity (εὐμεταδότους only occurs one time in the NT) is another quality that emanates from God (Matthew 7:11). Generosity among Christians (Romans 1:11; 12:8; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 2:8) proves that they are functioning according to the teaching of the Lord (Luke 3:11). And finally, sharing (κοινωνικούς a single occurrence as an adjective in the NT) reminds the readers not only of their union with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:16) but of their responsibility to provide for and support each other (Acts 2:42; 2 Corinthians 8:4; Philippians 1:5). 

All of these qualities will come if the rich set their hopes on the certainty of God (verse 17). Moreover, these qualities propel the rich toward the future. In fact, that is the inference that Paul draws from these charges: as they grow in these qualities, they are "storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future." 

The single occurrence of the compound word ἀποθησαυρίζω ("storing up treasure") is most likely a callback to Jesus's statements in the Gospels (Matthew 6:19–20; Luke 12:21). Elsewhere, Paul speaks of storing up wrath (Romans 2:5) as a visual reminder of the consequences of an unrepentant heart. The idea is not a sort of "works-based" salvation that the rich may curry God's favor based on doing good things. Clearly, Paul envisions the rich to mature into a new mindset that allows their faith to grow both in warmth toward their fellow believing brother, but also toward the ultimate future reward of eternal life. The ἵνα clause proves this conclusion. 

Paul wants the rich to change their minds and reorient their hope on God. When they do, they will become wealthy in the qualities that emanate from God, and thus, they will be able to grasp the future-oriented purpose of their lives: eternal life.