Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Timothy 6:6

"But godliness with contentment is great gain:" — 1 Timothy 6:6 (ASV)

But godliness. Piety; religion. The meaning is that real religion should be regarded as the greatest and most valuable acquisition.

With contentment. This word, as now used, refers to a state of mind: a calm and satisfied feeling, a freedom from murmuring and complaining. The idea is that "piety, connected with a contented mind—or a mind acquiescing in the allotments of life—is to be regarded as the real gain."

Tindal gives substantially the same interpretation: "Godliness is great riches, if a man is content with what he has." Coverdale writes: "However, it is of great advantage, who is so godly, and holds himself content with what he has." The word used here—autarkeia—means, properly, self-sufficiency, and is used here, in a good sense, to denote a mind satisfied with its lot.

If there is true religion, united with its proper accompaniment, peace of mind, it is to be regarded as the true riches. The apostle's object seems to be to rebuke those who supposed that property constituted everything worth living for. He tells them, therefore, that the true gain, the real riches which we ought to seek, is religion, with a contented mind. This does more to promote happiness than wealth can ever do, and this is what should be regarded as the great object of life.