οὐδὲν γὰρ εἰσηνέγκαμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, δῆλον ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι δυνάμεθα·
In the pastoral epistles, Paul distills theological truth into concise, memorable aphorisms—statements that are simple in form but profound in content. In 1 Timothy 6:7, he delivers one such crystalline insight about human dependence and divine sovereignty:
οὐδὲν γὰρ εἰσηνέγκαμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον, δῆλον ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι δυνάμεθα.
“For we brought nothing into the world, clearly we cannot take anything out of it.” This verse functions as a moral anchor in a passage addressing the dangers of materialism and the pursuit of wealth. Yet beneath its surface lies a fascinating grammatical structure: the use of the aorist indicative in both clauses, followed by an infinitive with a present tense finite verb (ἐξενεγκεῖν… δυνάμεθα). These choices subtly reinforce the inevitability of human dependence on God.
Our focus will be on how the tense usage, especially the aorist indicative, shapes the theological argument of this verse—how past action becomes a foundation for present inability, and how grammar mirrors anthropology and theology.
The Aorist Indicative: Anchoring Truth in Past Action
Paul begins his argument with two aorist indicatives:
οὐδὲν γὰρ εἰσηνέγκαμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον
“For we brought nothing into the world.” The aorist tense here is significant—it refers to a completed action in the past, specifically at birth. No human enters the world possessing anything. The aorist captures the universal starting point of all humanity: nakedness, dependency, and emptiness.
This grammatical choice reinforces the idea that our condition of dependence is not just philosophical or ethical—it is ontological. From the moment of birth, we are recipients, not possessors. The aorist locks this truth into history: it is a fact, not a metaphor.
The Infinitive + Present Indicative: Ability That Is Not Ours
The second half of the verse introduces a striking contrast:
δῆλον ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι δυνάμεθα
“Clearly we cannot even carry anything out.” Here, Paul uses an aorist infinitive (ἐξενεγκεῖν) paired with a present indicative finite verb (δυνάμεθα, “we are able”). This combination expresses the idea of inability to perform a specific action, in this case, taking possessions beyond death.
- ἐξενεγκεῖν: The aorist infinitive denotes the undefined act of carrying something out—it is not a habitual or repeated action, but a single, decisive one (like crossing the threshold of death).
- δυνάμεθα: The present tense of this verb indicates ongoing inability—not just now, but always. It is a continuing state of powerlessness.
Together, these forms create a powerful rhetorical effect: what was once true at birth remains true at death. We do not own life’s goods—we steward them temporarily. And no amount of accumulation can alter this fundamental reality.
Tense That Breathes Eternity: From Birth to Beyond
Paul’s use of tenses traces a complete arc—from the beginning of life to its end. The aorist indicative grounds us in the past reality of birth, while the infinitive + present indicative propels us toward the inevitable future of death. And between those two points? Life itself—transient, fragile, and dependent.
This temporal framework reflects a deeply biblical anthropology. Human beings are not self-sufficient creators of meaning or value. We are creatures—dependent at the start, dependent at the end, and dependent throughout. The grammar of 1 Timothy 6:7 does not merely describe a spiritual truth; it enacts it through time-bound language.
Morphological Breakdown of Key Terms
| Word | Root | Form | Literal Translation | Grammatical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰσηνέγκαμεν | εἰσφέρω | Aorist indicative, active, first person plural | “We brought in” | Aorist emphasizes completed past action |
| ἐξενεγκεῖν | ἐκφέρω | Aorist infinitive, active | “To carry out” | Used with finite verb δυνάμεθα to express ability |
| δυνάμεθα | δύναμαι | Present indicative, middle/passive, first person plural | “We are able” | Present tense indicates ongoing state of ability/inability |
| δῆλον | δῆλος | Adjective, neuter singular, nominative, used substantively | “Clear”, “Evident” | Functions as a noun: “the evident thing” or “obviously” |
The Weight of What We Cannot Carry
At its core, this verse is not about materialism alone—it is about humility before the divine economy. The inability to bring anything into the world or take anything out reveals more than economic futility; it exposes spiritual poverty. If everything we have is entrusted, then everything we have must be released.
And yet, in this admission of helplessness, there is also liberation. To recognize that we own nothing is to free ourselves from the burden of possession. To confess that we cannot carry anything beyond death is to prepare ourselves for the only thing we can truly take with us: faithfulness.
So let us hear again the voice of the Apostle—not as a moralist scolding greed, but as a theologian shaping doctrine through grammar. In the aorist indicative and the infinitive with present verb, we find a divine truth: we are not owners. We are not saviors. We came with nothing. And we leave with nothing. But in that nothingness, grace finds everything.
