“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.” (1 Timothy 6:1–2 (ESV)
As the workweek begins, today’s featured text is appropriate for our reading, consideration and application. It is certainly necessary for us to read I Timothy 6:1-2. It is equally necessary for us to understand what the Apostle Paul meant in what he wrote to his young protégé. It is also necessary for each believer in Christ to apply this text in our circumstances of life.
The historical and grammatical context involves the first century cultural condition of slavery. Paul addressed the problem of Christian slaves who were not showing proper respect for their masters, therefore hindering the Gospel. Paul provided another reason for believing slaves to respect Christian masters. It was because their masters were brothers in Christ.
“Under normal circumstances slaves and masters had no associations outside the institution of slavery. With the advent of the gospel, however, these two groups found themselves thrown together in the congregation in new ways, creating problems the apostles were forced to address repeatedly (cf. 1 Cor. 7:20–24; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 3:22–25; Phile.; 1 Peter 2:13–25). Paul’s instructions here correspond entirely with what is taught elsewhere in the New Testament on the subject, with one major exception: in this passage he addresses only slaves. Usually, his exhortations to submit to authority were immediately buttressed by warning masters against abusing their authority (cf. Eph. 6:5–9; Col. 3:22–4:1).”[1]
Additionally, a slave’s service to their master should be all the better since they were serving fellow believers in Christ. What was true in the slave/master relationship in the first century should be applied in the employee/employer relationship in the 21st century. The beneficiaries or a servant’s service, or an employee’s work, are brothers and sisters in Christ. This dynamic should be motivating the laborer all the more to work well.
“Paul’s thought here is totally foreign to the world, and can be fully appreciated only by those who view their lives through the eyes of Jesus Christ (cf. Mark 10:42–45). Christian slaves whose masters are also believers should redouble rather than reduce their service. This should stem purely from the realization that the one who is receiving the benefits is a beloved brother or sister in Christ. The attitude undergirding this instruction is complete nonsense to anyone who does not understand the Lord Jesus, but it is the genius of Christlikeness and the ultimate source of all meaning and joy in life to those who have eyes to see (cf. John 13:4–17; 15:9–14).” [2]
Paul believed such a mindset of work was so vital to the health and well-being of the Gospel and the church, he commanded Timothy to instruct and encourage these principles.
“What Paul has been saying with reference to slaves (in verses 1 and 2) must be dinned into the ears of the people. Timothy must teach these things. However, not only upon the minds of the people and of their presbyters must he make an impression but also upon their wills. He must urge as well as teach these things. In this connection the present imperatives for both verbs probably point in the direction of the necessity of constant repetition: keep on teaching and keep on urging. The second verb has the basic meaning: to call to one’s side. See also 1 Tim. 1:3; 2:1; 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:6; 2:15. Derived meanings are: to appeal to or to entreat, to admonish, to exhort, to urge, to encourage or to comfort. Here the meaning urge best fits the context.”[3]
“What is especially important in this connection is that, wholly contrary to certain present-day trends, the apostle is definitely not of the opinion that all propositions touching religion and ethics are necessarily subjective and relative, and that the only justifiable method of arriving at some measure of truth is that of asking questions, such as, “Brother Brown, what do you think of this?” and “Brother Smith, what is your opinion about that?” Paul has accepted certain definite propositions which he considers to be the truth of God! He wants these to be taught! And he requests that Timothy urge their acceptance and application to life! See also 4:11 and 5:7.”[4]
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 745.
[2] Ibid., 745.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 194.
[4] Ibid., 194.
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