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Chapter 6 |
Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
1 ¶ Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 3 If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes over words, from which cometh envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions, 5 perverse disputings by men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. From such withdraw thyself. 6 ¶ But 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 raiment, let us be therewith content. 9 But those who would be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; and while some have coveted after it, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 ¶ In the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, I give thee this charge: 14 that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He in His times shall show--He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of Lords, 16 who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge those who are rich in this world that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science, falsely so called, 21 which some professing, have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. |
We continue to examine the way Timothy was to deal with the various groups and situations in the church at Ephesus. v1,2 Slaves. In the Roman Empire, probably half the population were classed as slaves, some were due to the various battles the Romans had been involved in as they had conquered the countries but many were due to financial problems, they had to sell themselves as slaves to pay debts. Often slaves were well educated but under the Roman system they were not considered as a person, just an object to use and cast away when not wanted. The Christian faith and the Gospel was opposite to this situation and so attracted slaves. Gal 3:28 However, neither Paul or Peter preached against slavery as that would have immediately brought the faith into opposition and a threat to the Roman Empire and would have been resisted by the Government, the name of God being blasphemed. Paul points this out to the Jew misusing their relationship with God Rom 2:24. The Gospel message would eventually remove slavery. Some slaves were using their new freedom in Christ to disobey their masters, they had to learn that spiritual freedom does not alter their position socially. v1 Unbelieving Masters: Believing slaves, who revolted against unbelieving masters, were dishonouring the message of the Gospel. v2 Believing Master: These Masters treated their slaves with love Col 4:1; Philemon v16. The gospel message made all equal, a slave may feel that as we are brothers I am equal with my master. Paul tells them that a believer should not take advantage of another believer, to despise them,. They are beloved, love does not misuse its position. Finally there is a benefit for both. These thoughts still apply to the system we use today of employer and employee. v3-10 False teachers: v3 The false teachers will not teach the words of Jesus and God. v4 The false teacher is proud but often knows nothing. They may often argue about minor matters instead of the wholesome words of Jesus, causing many problems in the church. v5 Because of this, the truth was not being taught, spending so much of the time in these arguments, thinking they were gaining faith but not getting it from the Holy Spirit. Paul tells Timothy and us to avoid these situations. v6-10 Dealing with money. v6 "contentment" happy with your situation Phil 4:11. True contentment comes from Christ not position, riches or material things. v7 When we were born we brought nothing into the world, when we die we cannot take anything with us. The world is pushing "you need it.," what ever wealth or materials we obtain during our life, they are of no use to us when we die. Often when a person dies people ask "What were they worth?, How much did they leave?" the answer is NOTHING. v8 Many of us do not know the difference between needs and wants. v9,10 The desire for wealth leads to a wrong life: We see a person who has to have more and more material things so that they are happy. But riches are a trap, people are caught by the desires (lusts) and these need to be satisfied. All that happens is the person gets hurt and possibly ill. Paul said it is like a person drowning. We must not use religion as a source of riches. God's labourers will be rewarded in heaven but here on earth we must work to be worthy of His 'hire', a true shepherd John 10:11-14. Our question for any situation should be "How much can I give my Lord, not what's in it for me?" v11-16 The Pastor: Paul now turns to Timothy personally. "But thou, O man of God," indicates the difference between the false teachers and Timothy. Paul gives Timothy four instructions. 1) v11 Flee, run away, separate yourself from these things: v5 "From such withdraw" 2) Follow things which are right with God with faith, love, patience or staying power, finally meekness, not a weakness perhaps gentleness would be a better translation. 3) v12-16 Fighting. Not between believers but between the world and believers. To help us in this battle we have the promise of eternal life, an unfailing promise from God through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus who stood before Pilate and did not give in to the enemy. v14,15 Paul reminds Timothy that we will all have to stand before Jesus at His coming so "keep this commandment without spot," or failure. 1 John 2:28 v15,16 "King of kings and Lord of Lords," what a description, no one greater, immortal, God who is not subject to any one else or death. The Giver of Life. And we are His. 1 Cor 15:50-58 Why did Paul emphasis the glory of God? Possible as a warning about the coming emperor worship which was about to appear in the Roman Empire. 4) v20,21 Be Faithful God had given Paul the Gospel truth, he had passed it to Timothy. It was now up to Timothy to guard this message and pass it on to others. He must avoid any false teaching. Possible Paul is referring to a group called "Gnostics." Paul's letter to the Colossians is referring to this group. Timothy do not leave the faith. Matt 6:33. v17-19 God supplies all we need, not only we need but also Paul encourages the Believer to "enjoy" all these gifts. Think how rich a Believer is in Christ, we have the "the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering," Rom 2:4, the "the riches of his grace;" Eph 1:7, and the gift of grace, "the God of all grace," 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Cor 12:9, with all that comes with it. Finally looking forward, to "his riches in glory," Phil 4:19; Eph 3:16. Enjoy the Christian life. |
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