PAUL’S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY
Conclusion of the first letter with several exhortations
1 Timothy 6
Slaves and servants – verses 1 and 2
Slavery has existed since ancient times. The Law of Moses regulated the rights and obligations of the slaves in Israel. In the Roman Empire, slavery was common and slaves were entirely under the power of their owners – there were no appeals and no legal rights. Of course, there were bad owners, and sometimes good - the latter usually being Christians (e.g., Philemon).
a) In this chapter, Paul encourages Christian slaves to bear witness of Christ through honouring and obeying their masters willingly, without complaints, or laziness, or dishonesty. In this way they "adorned the Gospel" (Titus 2:10) and testified of their new life in Christ.
Of course, this commandment to the slaves of that time is also the Word of God to employees today! They should show by their conduct in employment what the Gospel is in practice - what a “son of God" really is, a saved Christian.
b) And if by chance the owner of the slave or the boss of the believer today is also a believer, should the believer be more slovenly in his service because of that? ... Not at all! On the contrary, the Christian slave (or employee) should serve more faithfully his Christian master, out of brotherly love and not just as a slave or paid employee. Punctuality, honesty and good will should mark the Christian employee, whether his boss is a believer or not.
Two dangers – verses 3 to 10
In this passage, the apostle warns us with respect to two very common dangers in the world, false teachers of Christian doctrine and the love of money.
a) Those who pervert the teaching of Scripture usually do so for two reasons. Firstly, people are of a “perverted mind" (v. 10), having an obsession or disordered (sick or weak) appetite for discussions, questions and even quarrels about words and points of doctrine. Secondly, they think "religion" should be a way to make much profit (for the leaders), so they try to "get" doctrines or interpretations that will attract a greater number of followers. How many, many new "interpretations" of the Bible (generally through so-called "visions") have appeared in the world during recent centuries - the "modern theology", the "Seventh-day Adventism," Mormonism, the false "kingdom" of self-called "Jehovah's Witnesses" and many other perversions of the Sacred Scriptures.
b) Love of money may be the motive for many counterfeiters of biblical teaching because "they suppose that godliness is a means of gain" (v. 5). Very well - says the apostle - godliness may actually be a source of profit, but not in the sense of "big money"! The "profit" that the Gospel brings is peace with God and a life of contentment with what we have (Hebrews 13:5).
This desire to gain the riches of this world is really a danger to the Christian. It is a diabolic passion that prevents and often ruins spiritual life. It was this passion that led an apostle to betray the Son of God and that has caused the spiritual sinking of many Christians (v. 9-10).
Exhortation to Timothy – verses 11 to 16
This is an appeal from the apostle to young Timothy and every sincere Christian:
a) "To pursue – fight - lay hold" (v. 11-12). To follow the true Christian virtues: neither contention nor false teaching, nor the desire for wealth, but rather the virtues of a truly Christian character. To fight sin and evil with the weapons of the Christian faith. To take possession of eternal life: that is, to take advantage of the spiritual power of new life, which the Christian professes to have received at his conversion.
a) "To keep" (verses 13-14). Here is a solemn exhortation that Timothy keep "the commandment" that is, the Gospel of Christ (see John 12:50; 1 John 3:23; 2 John 6) - "without spot and blameless"- that is, in his procedure and character of Christian and teacher.
"Until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing…” Of course, at that time the church was waiting for the glorious and immediate return of the Lord Jesus. The first letter to the Thessalonians had already been written (see 4:13-18), and they had the promise of the Saviour in John 14:3 and that of the angels in Acts 1:11. Up until our days the Lord has not come, but He will fulfil His word and will be gloriously manifested. Let us keep His commandment!
c) The glory of Christ (v. 15-16). The "manifestation" of Christ will be made by the eternal God Himself, the only Sovereign and King over all the universe; immortal, invisible in His divine glory - but "in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2.9).
Preaching to the rich – verses 17 to 19
This "exhortation" is clearly the message of the Gospel to "the rich of this world." They have to put their hope in God, do good, accumulate treasure that will have value for eternity - that is, they have to convert and become Christians. There is no other way to take possession of life.
Final warning to Timothy – verses 20 and 21
“To guard what was committed to his trust"- that is, the Gospel and teachings connected with it in the Holy Scripture. The so-called "science" with all its theories and its false "reasoning", should not divert him from the faith in God and in His Word. “Your word is truth" (John 17:17). True science, in any branch of knowledge or research, can never contradict or undo the Holy Scripture, because both are equally of God!
Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)
1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
1 Timothy chapter 6