Strong’s Greek 1305 refers to the basic provisions that sustain biological life—daily food, nourishment, and by extension all essential means of support. In Scripture the term forms part of a larger ethical call to contentment, opposing covetousness and excessive reliance on material wealth.

Scriptural Context

The word appears once, in 1 Timothy 6:8. Paul counsels the younger minister: “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Timothy 6:8). The single occurrence is embedded within an extended warning against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:6-10), setting a clear contrast between godliness with contentment and the ruin that attends greed. The placement in a Pastoral Epistle indicates its relevance for the ordering of personal life and church teaching alike.

Old Testament Roots

The Hebrew Scriptures consistently affirm the Lord as the Provider of daily bread:
• Genesis 28:20 – Jacob vows allegiance if God supplies “bread to eat and clothing to wear.”
• Deuteronomy 8:3 – Israel learns that “man does not live on bread alone” but on every word from God.
• Proverbs 30:8-9 – “Give me neither poverty nor riches… feed me with the food allotted to me.”

These texts anticipate the New Testament’s summons to dependence on God for sustenance rather than accumulation.

Greco-Roman Perspective

In first-century society diatrophē commonly denoted a daily ration in the household economy or military camp. Philosophers such as the Cynics praised a life limited to bare necessities, while others saw economic security as a mark of honor. Paul’s vocabulary engages that cultural dialogue, directing believers toward a Christ-centered simplicity grounded in divine provision rather than human philosophy.

Themes of Contentment and Stewardship

1 Timothy 6 links diatrophē to several intertwined principles:

1. Contentment – Satisfaction with essentials (cf. Philippians 4:11-13).
2. Trust – Reliance on God’s fatherly care (cf. Matthew 6:25-34).
3. Generosity – Frees resources for the needy (cf. James 2:15-16).
4. Witness – Models distinct values in a materialistic world (cf. Hebrews 13:5).

Implications for Discipleship and Ministry

Pastoral leaders are to cultivate practices that keep secondary matters from encroaching on primary mission:
• Personal discipline: budgeting, rejecting luxury that compromises gospel credibility.
• Teaching: urging congregations to judge success by faithfulness, not net worth.
• Mercy ministry: channeling surplus toward the poor, demonstrating that God’s family shares its bread.
• Global mission: enabling sacrificial giving by differentiating between needs and wants.

Interrelated New Testament Teachings

• Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.”
• Luke 12:15 – “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:8 – God supplies sufficiency for every good work.
• Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1305 captures the humble but profound reality of daily sustenance. Scripture elevates these basics from mere biological necessity to a theological signpost, directing believers to gratitude, simplicity, and sacrificial love. By anchoring life and ministry in God’s faithful provision of diatrophē, the church testifies that true riches are found in Christ rather than in the storehouse.