1st Timothy Chapter 6

From The Open Bible Project

6:1 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.

• (1) He adds also rules for the servant’s duty towards their masters: upon which matter there were no doubt many questions asked by those who took occasion by the Gospel to trouble the normal manner of life. And this is the first rule: let servants that have come to the faith and have the unfaithful for their masters, serve them nonetheless with great faithfulness.
• (2) The reason: lest God should seem by the doctrine of the Gospel to stir up men to rebellion and all wickedness.

6:2 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.

• (3) The second rule: let not servants that have come to the faith, and have also masters of the same profession and religion, abuse the name of brotherhood, but let them so much the rather obey them.
• (a) Let this be sufficient, that with regard to those things which pertain to everlasting life, they are partakers of the same good will and love of God, as their masters themselves are.
• (4) A general conclusion, that these things ought not only to be simply taught, but must with exhortations be diligently learned by them.

6:3 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,

• (5) He severely condemns and excommunicates or casts out of the Church as proud men, those who do not content themselves with Christ’s doctrine, (that is to say, the doctrine of godliness) but weary both themselves and others, in vain questions (for all other things are vain), because they do not content themselves in Christ’s doctrine. He condemns them as lying deceivers, because they savour or sound of nothing but vanity: as mad men, because they trouble themselves so much in matters of nothing: as evil plagues, because they cause great contentions, and corrupt men’s minds and judgment. To be short, he condemns them as profane and wicked, because they abuse the precious name of godliness and religion, for the sake of wicked gain.

6:4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

• (b) Strivings about words, and not about matter: and by words he means all those things which do not have substance in them, and by which we can reap no profit.

6:5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. [9] Withdraw yourself from such. [See 1st Timothy Footnotes 9]

• (c) Such as we see in those shameless schools of popery, which are nothing else but vain babbling and foolish talking.

6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

• (6) He properly dismisses the name of gain and lucre, confessing that godliness is great gain, but in a far different manner, that is, because it brings true sufficiency.

6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out.

• (7) He mocks the folly of those who do so greedily hunger after frail things, who can in no way be satisfied, and yet nonetheless cannot enjoy their excess.

6:8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

6:9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

• (8) He puts fear into Timothy to avoid covetousness using a different reasoning, that is, because it draws with it an infinite sort of lusts and those very hurtful, with which covetous men do torment themselves to the degree that in the end, they cast away from them their faith and salvation.

6:10 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.

• (d) Sorrow and grief do as it were pierce through the mind of man, and are the harvest and true fruits of covetousness.

6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

• (9) A peculiar exhortation to various virtues, with which it appropriate for the pastors especially to be furnished.
• (e) Whom the Spirit of God rules.

6:12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

6:13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

• (10) A most earnest request and charge, to observe and keep all the things faithfully, with our eyes set upon the coming of Jesus Christ, whose glory we have to contrast with the vain glittering of this world, and his power with all the terrors of the wicked.

6:14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

6:15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

• (f) He combines many words together for one purpose: by which he confirms the power of God, which if we trust steadfastly in, we will not be moved out of our position.

6:16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

6:17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

• (11) He adds as an overabundance as it were a sharp admonition to the rich, that they mainly take heed of two evils, that is, of pride, and deceitful hope, against which he sets three excellent virtues, hope in the living God, liberality towards their neighbour, and gentle conditions.
• (g) In things pertaining to this life, with whom those men are compared who are rich in good works.
• (h) Who alone is, and that everlasting: for he sets the frail nature of riches against God.

6:18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

6:19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

• (12) The praise of liberality, by the effects of it, because it is a sure testimony of the Spirit of God who dwells in us, and therefore of the salvation that will be given to us.

6:20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

• (13) He repeats the most important of all the former exhortations, which ought to be deeply imprinted in the minds of all ministers of the word, that is, that they avoid all vain babblings of false wisdom, and continue in the simplicity of sincere doctrine.

6:21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

• (i) Not only in word, but also in appearance and gesture: to be short, while their behaviour was such that even when they held their peace they would make men believe, their heads were occupied about nothing but high and lofty matters, and therefore they erred concerning the faith.