1 Timothy chapter 6

Paul instructs slaves. He warns against false teachers. He urges us to simplify our lives, and to fight the good fight of the faith.

 


 

SLAVES AND SLAVE MASTERS

 

VERSE 1. Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

bondservants under the yoke. That is, “slaves.”

count their own masters worthy of all honor. Slaves were to esteem their masters.

Unfortunately, ever since Paul wrote this verse, wealthy Christians used it to justify their owning of human slaves.

 

VERSE 2. Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

 

FALSE TEACHERS

 

VERSE 3. If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

If anyone teaches a different doctrine. In those days, an apostle would arrive in town and lead people to faith in Jesus Christ. Then he would leave to go to another town.

Soon, other missionaries would arrive. These new missionaries preached a message that sounded like the Christian faith.

But it assumed that Jesus Christ was NOT enough, and that people had to do religious deeds in order to be saved.

Withdraw yourself from such. Paul tells them to stay away from those missionaries. They were false prophets.

 

VERSE 4. he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

 

VERSE 5. constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

 

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

 

VERSE 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

VERSE 7. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

brought nothing. Most Christians are as materialistic as anybody else. But the Bible calls us to be content with food and clothing. Read more »

 

VERSE 8. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

NIV 1984 translation. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

food and clothing. Most Christians are as materialistic as anybody else. But the Bible calls us to be content with food and clothing. Read more »

 

VERSE 9. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

Ecclesiastes 5:10. He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

In our day many Christians serve two masters. They profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But their real master is money. Read more »

 

VERSE 10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

New Living Translation. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. The Bible is clear as to the root of evil. And yet Christians explain it away in order to justify their greed. Read more »

Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed. In our day many Christians serve two masters. They profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But their real master is money. Read more »

 

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

 

VERSE 11. But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

 

VERSE 12. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

Fight the good fight. This verse is where the expression came from.

Psalm 18:34. He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.

Psalm 144:1. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:

you confessed the good confession. Have you professed your faith in front of other people?

 

VERSE 13. I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

 

VERSE 14. that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

VERSE 15. which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

 

VERSE 16. He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

whom no man has seen. Jacob saw the LORD God face-to-face. But after that, nobody was permitted to see the face of God. Not even Moses. No one was permitted to see him and live. Read more »

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WEALTHY CHRISTIANS

 

VERSE 17. Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

In our day many Christians serve two masters. They profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But their real master is money. Read more »

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 18. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

The Bible calls us to support the people who teach us in the faith. Read more »

 

VERSE 19. laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

 

PROMOTE THE FAITH

 

VERSE 20. Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,

Titus 1:16. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

 

VERSE 21. which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

Titus 1:16. They profess that they know God, but by their deeds they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.

 


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1 TIMOTHY

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