But godliness with contentment is great gain.
But. Though they err, there is a sense in which 'piety is' not merely gain, but "great gain:" not the gaining which they pursue, which makes men discontented with present possessions, and using religion as "a cloak of covetousness" (1 Thessalonians 2:5) and means of earthly gain, but the present and eternal gain which piety, whose accompaniment is contentment, secures. Timothy possibly shrank from the conflict; whence Paul felt (1 Timothy 6:11) that Timothy needed exhortation: cf. also the second letter. Not merely contentment is great gain (a sentiment of Cicero, 'Parad.' 6, 'the greatest and surest riches'), but 'piety with contentment;' for piety not only feels no need of what it has not, but also has that which exalts it above what it has not (Wiesinger). х Autarkeia (G841), contentment, is translated "sufficiency," 2 Corinthians 9:8.] But the adjective, Philippians 4:11, "content," literally, 'having a sufficiency in one's self' independent of others. 'The Lord supplies his people with what is sufficient. True happiness lies in piety; but this sufficiency is thrown into the scale as a kind of overweight' (Calvin) (1 Kings 17:1-16; Psalms 37:19; Isaiah 33:6; Isaiah 33:16; Jeremiah 37:21).