In this last chapter, he’s addressing bondservants and their masters (in our own culture, these things can be applied to employees and their employers).
He returns to the subject of teachers and personal conduct, making a connection between doctrine and lifestyle – something we will focus on here in this study; in a time for the church when doctrine is sidelined and conduct is scandalous, the need for these exhortations becomes self-evident.
At the last, Paul the aged appeals to his dearly beloved, young Timothy and charges him with the sacred trust of the Holy Scriptures, to stay the course and be mindful of his own personal conduct.
Let’s partake then of the holy manna!
PART ONE ~
1 TIMOTHY 6:1-2
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.
In the same way that wives by their holy conduct may win their unbelieving husbands (or vice versa; 1 COR 7:13-16; EPH 5:33), servants also demonstrate Christ-likeness to their masters, and honor them so that as a Christian, the name of GOD is all the more honored – not despised, or worse - even blasphemed! Elsewhere Paul said this to the church at Colossi:
COLOSSIANS 3:22-25I remember during a job interview, I was asked what sort of employee do I plan to be. My response: “a godly one – who works, not for my employer, not for my supervisor, not for a pay check, but for ‘my real Boss’, the LORD GOD to Whom I will give an account of my life on Judgment Day – and He will grade my performance in every category – my home life, church life, public life, and my employment. My supervisor won’t be able to supervise me the entire shift – but GOD is always watching me, and if I keep that in mind, I’ll do the very best job that I can do, by the grace of GOD.” Later that day, I got a phone call, telling me that I’ve been hired!
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Apostle Peter also speaks on this:
1 PETER 2:18-20Having a Christian boss is a blessing; but neither boss nor worker as Christians are not to take advantage of that relationship. The worker is not to try and curry favor or special privileges just because he’s a brother. Neither is the boss to take advantage of doing a less than commendable job and expecting to be excused – just because he’s family in Christ.
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God (See also: TITUS 2:9-10).
Both are responsible to Christ by being the best they can be, in either position.
In these days, employers shy away from hiring Christians because of their poor reputation. They spend more time talking Bible than they work for their wage.
There is a time and place for discussion about the Bible – lunchbreak, after hours, or having a get together outside of work. Interested parties can easily be handed a gospel tract with an invitation to discuss it later.
1 TIMOTHY 6:2b-5
2 …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.
Paul now addresses teachers – as the pastor of Ephesus, Timothy would supervise those with the gift of teaching – who themselves may not have the calling of a pastor.
In the listing of the various offices in the church we have the following:
EPHESIANS 4:11I find it reasonable that one may be a teacher, but not a pastor; likewise one may be a pastor but not be a teacher. That may seem odd, but pastoring is shepherding, and to feed the flock isn’t the same as guiding the flock.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers;
Providing guidance, wisdom, exhortation are pastoral duties, and certainly one would use the Word of GOD for the resource to draw such things from and provide them for GOD’s sheep, but such a one may not be particularly gifted in teaching in an expositional capacity.
Elders are among those who pastor and who teach; in the previous chapter we read the following:
1 TIMOTHY 5:17
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Note that there is a distinction between those “elders who rule (oversee, maintain) well” and (“especially”) those who labor in the Word and doctrine. There are many very gifted Bible teachers who are/were not pastors: Dave Hunt for example, Chuck Missler, Roger Oakland, among others.
Then there are those who are both pastor and teacher, and these are in the majority.
The apostle Paul who ‘outranks’ pastors and teachers, declares that if any one teaches otherwise – contrary to the teaching Paul gave to Timothy – the apostle equates this disregard of his own “wholesome words” which is “good doctrine” (1 TIM 4:6) on the same level as “the words of our LORD Jesus Christ – doctrine (in both cases) which accords with godliness.
Side note: There are some professing Christians who hold the New Testament Scripture on a two-tier level: the words of Jesus Christ supersede the words of any of the apostles. I believe this to be in error on the simple basis that the LORD Himself stated that the Spirit of God would “teach [them] all things” (JN 14:26) – and if the Third Person of the Trinity is inspiring the writers of the New Testament, how can their teaching be seen as somehow inferior to the teachings of Christ?1 TIMOTHY 6:3c
When apostles and New Testament writers were inspired, they wrote infallibly, inerrantly through the Holy Spirit (2 PET 1:21), as though Christ wrote the words Himself. The apostle Peter considered the writings of Paul on par with the Old Testament Scriptures:
2 PETER 3:16
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Any who would dispute the words of Christ, yet hold themselves up as some sort of spiritual authority in the church – or even one who simply desires “to dialogue” and “share stories whereby we may learn (possibly) some new insights” – the Word tells us that they are “…proud, knowing nothing, but [are] obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings…”
These are the sort who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 TIM 3:7). This is a perfect description of those genuine unbelievers in the plenary, inspired, infallible Scriptures, but who count themselves as proper spokespersons for the church – the Emergent Church Movement, which is now the Progressive Church that’s merging with denominations, independent and, or once faithful churches and liberal schools along with New Age, New Apostolic Reformation heretics, and religions of the world in the formation of a one world syncretic religious system.
… the doctrine which accords with godliness…
There is a connection between doctrine and lifestyle.
Referring to the doctrines of the Pharisees and scribes, the LORD told His disciples to beware of the leaven (MT 16:6), the apostle Paul stated that “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump [of dough]” (1 COR 5:6).
Leaven (what we call yeast) is a bacteria that breaks down carbohydrates, decomposing them and in the process release CO2, (which is what makes the dough rise). It basically corrupts and puffs up – so it’s a perfect model for sin, for pride and the subsequent false doctrine that arises from both.
If one’s doctrine is pure, that will enable a person to live in pure (not perfect), godly conduct; if the doctrine is bad, it will corrupt one’s conduct with ungodliness. Yet the same is true in the opposite direction. If one’s life is impure, this will affect the doctrine that is believed and, or taught by that person. Leaven never remains isolated – it will spread everywhere until the entire matter is full of it:
“…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…”
There really is no way to live a pure life if one is teaching false doctrine, and vice versa.
Where there is greed and avarice, this will undoubtedly affect what one teaches and how; this is very apparent in the Word-Faith movement, where the theme that runs through every one of those ‘ministries’ is: “gain is godliness” (vs. 5).
The doctrines of the Mormons are entirely counter to the Holy Scriptures – and if even half of the reports I’ve read over the years are true, it’s quite apparent what fruit has been born from the false teachings that come from that movement. The practicing of their rituals in their Temple are practically a carbon copy of the same rituals conducted in Masonic lodges (and if you know what happens at the 32nd and 33rd degrees – you know how evil these are)!
1 TIMOTHY 6:6-8
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.
It’s those who have kept an eternal perspective that understand how unimportant luxuries and opulence are. Getting that higher paying job with the motive of buying that summer home, the speed boat, the RV, with never a thought of how they could invest some of that higher income towards ministry and the furthering of the kingdom of GOD is an Earth-focused motive.
Now understand me please: I’m not saying that those things are evil or even bad. We serve a good and gracious GOD “Who gives us all things to enjoy generously” (vs. 17), but if our affections are settled on the things of this world, such riches and possessions that need caring for and up-keep, this will undoubtedly strangle out (MK 4:19) the affections that should throb in the hearts of all saints – those things that pertain to the kingdom of GOD and our LORD Jesus Christ!
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4We as citizens of heaven should never be so foolish as those in the world whose hearts and mind-set are fixed on this life alone (LK 12:20).
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
There is a liberating exhilaration in understanding that “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” This frees me from ever entering into the proverbial rat race, in the feverish fight to claw, grab, snatch, grasp the trinkets and treasures of this sinking Titanic of a world!
Such a perspective leads me wisely in the direction of working laboriously where my mind-set ought to be: “on things above, where Christ is”. We can bring nothing out with us – but we can send it on ahead!
Those good works which will be judged and rewarded by Christ with eternal riches that can never be corrupted or ruined with age and use:
MATTHEW 6:19-21I’ve known lifelong missionaries who, when they were not in the field, earned a wage, and lived out of a garage so that the surplus finances could be sent to other missionaries already on the field. They’re conducting themselves wisely and working for eternity, not for the temporary blessings (that often turn into burdens) in this fallen world.
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Are all called to such a lifestyle as a disciple of Christ? Perhaps not specifically like the one described above, but we are all called as disciples to self-denial, self-sacrifice, crucifying self spiritually, exalting Christ above all else in our lives and to esteem others more than ourselves.
This flies in the face of the Self-Esteem movement* that wants to coddle sinful flesh, to relieve one of the responsibility of being a slave for Christ (a bond-servant who willingly submits themselves to another for the sake of devotion and love).
* Check out The False Gospel of Self Esteem | Bible Study of Romans 13:9
The Scriptures admonish us to be content with what we’ve been blessed with already, and if the LORD increases riches or brings one to poverty, live accordingly and find Christ in it all (HEB 13:5; PHIL 4:11; PS 62:10). With the simplicity of food and clothing (vs. 8) – clothing in the Greek refers to covering, presumably covering our bodies with clothing, but the application of “covering” could also apply to a “roof over our heads”, although a committed disciple isn’t always guaranteed the latter (MT 8:19-20), we are instructed to be content, to deny coveting and motives of avarice.
We continue along these lines in the next two verses:
1 TIMOTHY 6:9-10
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.
Note that it’s not riches that’s a danger necessarily, but a “desire to be rich”, thus even a poor man could be endangered from such lusts. Yet, it’s also the case for the wealthy, and most often the extremely wealthy that riches becomes an insatiable thirst – and that of power. J.D. Rockefeller was once asked, “How much money do you need to have before you’re content?” His answer?
“One more dollar, as always.”
Many people will do just about anything for money. A survey was conducted back in the ‘90’s where the participants were kept completely anonymous. They were asked if they’d be willing to kill someone for $1 million with complete assurance that they’d never be discovered and charged for such a crime.
The percentage was mortifying: 65% said that they would kill for money.
Greed and avarice even among Christians is in evidence today. I saw a video where Creflo Dollar, televangelist was dancing around the altar, kicking up ankle-deep piles of money into the air, and had his congregation stretching forth their hands and speaking out “in faith” the word “MONEY!” and thereby acquire cash in the deed.
Such a love for money is indeed “the root of all evil” because with money comes power and granting such power to sinful people will more often than not create disaster. Such power can lead Christians astray from the faith and find themselves and “pierced” – in this sense, immobilized by being pinned to the proverbial wall of this wickedness.
Among alcoholics, some of the most common are among the extremely wealthy, because they’ve climbed to the top of the ladder with incredible success, acquiring all that heart could wish, and still find themselves empty, dissatisfied, unsure of who their real friends are, lonely, even suicidal.
One millionaire in the 19th century was so selfish in her greed, that her sickly son died while waiting for his mother to find a free clinic that would treat him!
This is probably why most Christians are not wealthy – because our Father knows He can’t trust us with such power. On the other hand, by the world’s standard of living, the average American is already “wealthy” by comparison. May we therefore be content with the simplicities of life, and grateful to the LORD for what we do have.
Having a grateful heart is a sure defense against greed, envy, bitterness, and resentment at the good fortunes of others (even that of wicked, evil people; see PS 37).
PART TWO ~
1 TIMOTHY 6:11-13
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,
The apostle refers to his protégé as a “man of GOD” and as I ponder this appellation, I have to wonder – how many today are worthy of such a title? A disciple who is wholly committed to the LORD, whose character of holiness is befitting to speak on behalf of GOD and be a faithful steward of His Word – in proclaiming it diligently both to saints and sinners.
Not just men, but women, and young people – all saints of GOD are called with a holy calling to show forth the work of GOD’s grace in their lives as a testament to the transformative power of the cross of Christ that can slay the sinful man and raise him up again in a life of holiness. Continuing this line of thought, check out this Scriptural admonition on TTUF, simply entitled, SHOW ME.
Any saint of GOD is to flee from the evils of sin, in whatever form they may take because they understand how deadly sin is – it took no one less than GOD made flesh to destroy its power!
Yet it’s not just about fleeing from the destructive power of sin; it’s also about the pursuit of holiness by means of the pursuit of GOD Who alone can bring the garb of godliness, the robe of righteousness and the garments of salvation (IS 61:10) and dress the repentant sinner in such.
This admonition by the apostle Paul, that Timothy should seek these things requires seeking the Person of Christ in Whom we find the epitome of “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” and the many other divine traits love, grace, truth, mercy, compassion, etc.
In the midst of these benevolent, entirely inoffensive attributes, the apostle then encourages Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith”.
Spiritual warfare is more than just a subject matter in the Scriptures, it’s an overall perspective that keeps the entirety of the Word of GOD in view of this enormous contest between the kingdom of GOD and the kingdom of darkness – a warfare that wages not for land, resources, strategic geography, etc. but for the souls of the lost.
This is a fight of faith – an eternal view of truth in the turmoil of deceptions, lies and obfuscation of that eternal truth and eternal life that’s freely offered to all who will come to the LORD Jesus Christ.
This fight for the truth as found exclusively in the Person of Jesus Christ is manifested in the lives of saints – in their prayer closet, in sharing the Gospel, in making disciples, in marriage as two saints are bound together for the purposes of the LORD, in standing against the lies and deceptions of the enemy, in the casting out of demons as certainly as the casting down of vain imaginations (MK 16:17; 2 COR 10:4-5)! This is the confession Paul saw in this young man, “before many witnesses” and was “well-spoken of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium” (ACTS 16:2).
In the face of violent opposition and persecution, where some of the saints were martyred, Paul reminds this pastor: “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,”
GOD is the giver of all life, including eternal life which Timothy held firmly to by faith (vs. 12), and so this was to encourage Timothy that just as the LORD witnessed a good confession before Pilate (and was crucified), likewise he also is to stand resolutely, regardless of the outcome, whether martyred or delivered from this peril.
1 TIMOTHY 6:14-16
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.
There were many rulers who even at this early life of the new born church that were intent on its demise, but Timothy was to “keep this commandment without spot” and remain faithful – and blameless with the hope of Christ’s return, designated at the time of the Father to reward such diligent and faithful service.
The apostle reminds him Who the blessed and only Potentate is; the King of kings and LORD of Lords Who will preside over the judgment of earthly rulers who enacted such laws of abject treatment, persecution, and martyrdom of the saints. Even today, there are laws enforced in countries like India that encourages Hindus to persecute the church there, encouraging mistreatment, abuse (even sexual) on the children of GOD.
At the church I attend, we pray for such a church that’s experiencing these things and help support them financially.
Death holds no terror for those whose hearts belong to the LORD Who alone has immortality. Personally, if I could die a martyrs’ death, that would count for something far more than simply getting run over by a bus or some incidental fatality. We are all going to die one way or another – why not go out “in a blaze of glory” for the sake of JESUS! Faithful witnesses earn great reward (REV 2:10)!
The light of GOD’s glory is unapproachable – Moses and the children of Israel could attest to this, and no one could see His face and live (EX 33:20). And yet, by the Spirit, we behold the precious, glorious, kindly, and kingly Face of our LORD Jesus Christ:
2 CORINTHIANS 4:61 TIMOTHY 6:17-19
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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.
Pride often comes from power, especially if one doesn’t acknowledge the One Who is the Granter of all power, either directly or indirectly. If one believes that they are a power and unaccountable for that power to anyone, this can and usually does lead to pride. For this reason Paul is instructing Timothy to command such to be humble – not haughty, and to not set their heart on their riches:
PSALM 62:8-12A proper steward will use the resources given to them by the LORD to administrate those resources as though it was the LORD Himself doing it: they would invest in the kingdom of GOD, in the mission field, for the local church, for those in genuine need, those things that are descriptive of “being rich in good works”. And this brings up a certain point:
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah 9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor. 10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. 11 God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. 12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.
Just because someone has the means to lend money to a person claiming to be in need, does not necessitate that they should – such a request must be taken to prayer to the LORD for guidance. Throwing money at a problem could inadvertently deprive the needy person of a wisdom-infusing trial that the LORD intends to better the individual. However, a person of means who refuses to lend financial aid at the direction of GOD, could easily be misunderstood as being “unloving, uncaring, selfish, unchristian, etc.”
I think for this reason, among others, I’m glad that I’m not wealthy financially – such a life can lead to many burdensome complications that, without the wisdom of GOD to navigate, would lead further into “many sorrows”.
For those that GOD has entrusted financial riches, let them have the insightful perspective that’s according to wisdom: “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (MATT 6:19-21).
Notice that Paul directs the wealthy in vs. 19 with the same admonition as he gave to pastor Timothy in vs. 12, “lay hold on eternal life”. The Greek word used here is epilambanomai, which means “to catch, to seize” – that which is precious. Imagine a costly diamond engagement ring you intend to give to your beloved, and it slips from your hand and falls into the sink and will fall down the drain. To seize the prized item, not desiring to lose it, but keep it safe, is the idea here.
In this sense we hold the eternal life given to us as precious, and rather than left to ourselves to keep it safe, we have the power of the Holy Spirit through the LORD Jesus Christ, to guard, watch over, hold captive that which has been granted to us – not by our own works, but by the grace of GOD (EPH 2:8-9; 2 TIM 1:9; TITUS 3:5), the Greek word used to describe this is tereo: “to watch, to guard from loss or injury, to keep one’s eye upon, to keep from escaping”.
Another Greek word that carries similar, but different connotations is phulasso, and it means: “to keep protected, preserve” Tereo indicates the keeping of something presently in one’s care, whereas phulasso is custodianship over that which has previously been entrusted into one’s keeping.
The root word of phulassao (phulax) is “a watcher, a sentry guard, keeper”. The Greek word tereo is used in the first instance in JOHN 17; the Greek word phulasso is used in the second instance:
JOHN 17:12This is just one reason why I believe a genuinely born again disciple of Christ cannot lose what they didn’t earn, but whose salvation is kept by the same power that saved them to begin with: the grace of GOD!
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Phulasso is likewise used in the following verse, where Timothy is admonished to guard what was committed to his trust:
1 TIMOTHY 6:20-21
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.
Check out Steve Camp’s song Guard the Trust!
Lastly, Timothy is called upon to stand fast in true knowledge (“science”) and oppose that which is false.
I think scientism – and the theory of evolution is a foundation upon which so much of our society is based, and has had ruinous consequences, as it excludes truth as given by GOD Himself:
Everything from the aborting of human babies (since we are a non-endangered ‘animal’) we needn’t feel remorse over the death of these, for the cause of survival of the species due to overpopulation (another lie), and why we should object more strongly to the death of endangered animal species like bald eagles, sealions, etc. Transhumanism is the latest brick placed in this perverse Tower of Babel which seeks to deform the image of GOD in which we were first created.
How many professing young Christians have abandoned the faith upon entering into college – or even high school these days, being taught evolution as science fact? Any theory in science must be observed, theorized and tested, but this poor theory can neither be observed in real time (or in the examination of fossils because no transitory species exists), nor can these things be tested as it’s a process that supposedly requires millions of years.
Check out the following TTUF article, An OPPORTUNITY for TRUTH: PROVIDING CREATION SCIENCE In The CLASSROOM! here.
Finally, for a very useful tool in getting up to speed on the falsehoods of evolution with competent, accurate, and true science, click on SCIENTIFIC FACTS & EVOLUTION
This concludes the study of 1 TIMOTHY In this series of CROSSING The T’s STUDY! Next up, we’ll begin in 2 TIMOTHY and conclude in a study of TITUS, the third pastoral epistle by the apostle Paul to his young protégés!
Once this series is completed, we’ll direct our attention to the Old Testament book of NEHEMIAH, one of my favorite books!
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