1 Timothy 6:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

There is nothing uncertain there. There is an unshakable foundation there. There is nothing unstable there, but all is unshakable, unchangeable, firm, and constantly abiding. “That they may lay hold,” he says, “of eternal life,” because the doing of good works can bring us the enjoyment of it.

“Storing up for themselves a treasure, a good foundation for the future.” Where there is a foundation, everything is firm and unmoved. Since the blessings of virtue and of the age to come are constant, the Apostle here mentioned a foundation. “That they may lay hold of eternal life.” For the doing of good works, which he called a foundation, can bring the enjoyment of that life.

For the love of that true life, you must regard yourself as still solitary in this age, whatever happiness you may enjoy.

For there is that true life, in comparison with which this life, so dear to us, should not be called life, however joyful and long it may be.

So too there is true consolation, which God promises through the prophet, saying, "I will give them true consolation, peace upon peace."

Without this consolation, whatever earthly consolations may be, they reveal desolation rather than comfort.

This is probably a very approximate rendering of Is 57:18-19: "I have seen his ways, and I will heal him; I will lead him and comfort him and those who mourn for him. I will fulfill the word: peace to the far and to the near, says the Lord, and I will heal him."

The true life is that which we await in the age to come. It knows no setting and is not defined by time, for it is eternal. Therefore it is rightly called true.

The present life is only an image of life, not its truth. Yet precisely because it is an image of the true life, it is not altogether nothing, inanitas, a phantom.

On the contrary, it is what gives the possibility of acquiring the true life. By this temporal life that eternal life is acquired, when by the path of this life we hasten toward that one.

How does this happen? When we are not attached to the goods here, but through them strive to become rich in good works.

For this reason let us set ourselves the goal of becoming rich in good works. Through earthly treasures let us acquire spiritual treasures for ourselves.

Let us sow on earth, so that we may reap in heaven, where eternal treasure is formed from the good sown on earth.

The Apostle called the possession of wealth uncertain, but he named the enjoyment of future blessings a “foundation,” because these blessings are imperishable and unchangeable.

“Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future.” An unshakable foundation. For by a good life here, an indestructible and unshakable foundation of eternal life is built there. But the foundations here are unstable and insecure, since the present life itself is temporal. “That they may lay hold of eternal life.” A life unshakable, blessed, and never-ending.

The rich in the present age must be exhorted not to place their hope in their wealth, but in the living God. They should be sociable and generous, and thereby gather treasure for eternal life. “O Timothy,” thus the holy Apostle Paul concludes his epistle, “guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from profane empty talk and the contradictions of falsely named knowledge. By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Applying the teaching about the eternal life to come to the rich, the Apostle commands Timothy to exhort them to remember Him Who gave them wealth. They themselves should be generous, ready to share, and not proud.

They should gather treasure fit for eternal life, that is, works of mercy and love, which never falls away and bears fruit in eternal life.

"Command them not to be high-minded," says St. John Chrysostom. "He commands this because he knows that nothing arouses conceit, pride, and arrogance as money does."

"The Apostle rightly said, 'those who are rich in the present age,' for there are other rich men in the age to come."

In contrast to this, Timothy must zealously fulfill his calling as a servant of Christ (vv. 11-16). Those who have already become rich he must exhort to use their wealth as befits Christians (vv. 17-19).

"Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future." "Storing up," αποθησαυριζοντας, means setting aside as into a treasury. Whoever places something in a treasury is confident that what is deposited will be whole and secure.

St. Paul had this security and firmness of what is deposited in view when he used this word.

Benefactors store up for themselves, firmly and reliably laying down a good foundation for the future, εις το μελλον, that is, for their future lot.

"Where there is a firm foundation, nothing is unstable, but all is firm, unmoving, unshakable, and abiding" (St. Chrysostom).

"Since works of virtue undoubtedly secure the future, the Apostle therefore mentioned a foundation here" (blessed Theophylact).