Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
1 TIMOTHY 6
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
False Teachers and the Love of Money
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Final Charge to Timothy
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Application Notes
6:1-2 In Paul's culture, a great social and legal gulf separated masters and slaves. But as Christians, masters and slaves became spiritual equals, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Paul did not speak against the institution of slavery, but he gave guidelines for Christian slaves and Christian masters. His counsel for the master-slave relationship can be applied to the employer-employee relationship today. Employees should work hard, showing respect for their employers. In turn, employers should be fair (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25). Our work should reflect our faithfulness to and love for Christ, regardless of our social or job rank.
6:1 Many people wonder why the biblical writers did not speak more directly against human slavery. There are several possible reasons for this: (1) In Paul's day, slavery was widespread and an integral part of society. Some slaves were captives of war, and others had sold themselves into slavery because they could not provide for themselves otherwise. Many slaves lived in wretched conditions, but some functioned as though they were free, more like servants. If Christians encouraged slaves to revolt, anarchy would have resulted. Believers were supposed to exhibit peaceful living. (2) Early Christians thought this world would end sooner than it has. Given their assumptions about the impending end, freeing people from sin seemed a more immediate priority than freeing them from slavery. (3) New life through the Holy Spirit gutted the power of slavery from within. Having declared slaves and masters to be brothers and sisters, a deeper freedom was achieved in Christ.
6:3-5 Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel into quarrels that caused strife in the church. A person's understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording their knowledge over others or for making money. Be wary of those who just want to debate the minutia of the Bible as if our salvation depended on specific interpretations of minor points. The essential truths of Scripture are clear and not up for debate.
6:6-10 Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us some guidelines: (1) Realize that one day riches will all be gone (6:7, 17); (2) be content with what you have 16:8); 13) monitor what you are willing to do to get more money (6:9-10); (4) love people more than money (6:11); (5) love God's work more than money (6:11); and (6) freely share what you have with others (6:18). (See Proverbs 30:7-9 for a prayer about avoiding the love of money.)
6:6 This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honour God and centre our desires on him (Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what he is doing in our lives (Philippians 4:11-13).
6:8-9 "If we have food and clothing, we will be content." But when is enough enough? How can we truly be content? There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We may have all we need to live (that is, we have enough), but we let ourselves become anxious and discontent over what we merely want. Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires that ultimately lead only to "ruin and destruction." Ask God to provide what you need and to disperse any anxious desires that you may have.
6:11-12 Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold. Some think Christianity is passive, advocating that we have to wait for God to act. On the contrary, we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know God wants. Is it time for action on your part? Christian service, like athletics, requires training and sacrifice. Our discipline and obedience largely define whether we will be contributors or merely spectators. How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ's team?
6:13 Jesus' trial before Pilate is recorded in the Gospels: Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:16.
6:17-19 Ephesus was a wealthy city, and the Ephesian church probably had many wealthy members. Paul advised Timothy to deal with any potential problems by teaching that having riches carries great responsibility. If you have been blessed with wealth, then thank the Lord. Remember to be humble and not to trust rn your money. Use your money to do good. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. No matter how much money you have, your life should demonstrate that God controls the wealth that he has placed under your care.
6:21 The book of 1 Timothy provides guiding principles for local churches, including rules for public worship and qualifications for overseers (elders, pastors), deacons, and special church workers (widows). Paul tells church leaders to correct incorrect doctrine and to deal lovingly and fairly with all people in the church. The church is not organised simply for the sake of organisation but so that Christ can be honoured and glorified. While studying these guidelines, don't lose sight of what is most important in the life of the church--knowing God, working with other believers in loving harmony, and taking God's gospel to the world.
Paul also wrote 1 Timothy as a personal note to his dear friend Timothy, a young pastor in need of encouragement. Timothy experienced setbacks, fear of persecution, difficulty with false teachers, and the pressure of ministering to new believers in a pagan environment. God directed Paul to encourage Timothy, and through this letter, God encourages all of us. Imagine receiving such a personal, hope-filled letter from Paul to you in the ministry you are doing--whether at home with your family, at work, at school, or at church. Everything we do should glorify God. So stay strong, run from evil, pursue godliness, and hold tightly to your faith! The reward of seeing Jesus face-to-face and living forever with him will be worth it all.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)