1Tim 6:6-21
Let’s Do Things Right
We continue tonight looking at the practical, personal section that
Paul began in the last chapter. In chapter 5, he quickly listed five
traits in just 4 verses (and 3 traits in just 1 verse!) These
traits are personal habits that all Christians should have but
especially preachers.
I. Review of Slavery-I deviated from the book study last week to
study the topic of slavery since it is mentioned in
\\#1Tim 6:1-6\\. What we found was that God has NEVER changed
His mind about slavery as some say.
A. There were three kinds of slavery:
1. Debt slavery
2. Conquest slavery
3. For profit slavery
B. The first was men’s creation but God allowed it with no
comment. Today, we use bankruptcy courts, another thing we
have created and God has allowed, but if we were to go back
to indentured slavery, there is no Biblical reason to think
God would object to it.
C. The second was and is practiced when one nation conquers
another.
1. While there is no record of God creating this kind of
slavery, God has and does use it.
2. Such defeat is God’s way of punishing nations for their
sin and keeping sin from becoming exceedingly sinful.
3. It was and is used by God as America may well find out if
the Lord DOES NOT SOON return.
4. Those conquered were slaves until their descendents become
assimilated into the victors’ culture or until God set
them free.
D. The third, God has always been against!
1. God demanded the death penalty upon those who steal
people or who had stolen slaves in their possession.
De 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his
brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh
merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that
thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away
from among you.
Ex 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and
selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he
shall surely be put to death.
2. If you think God has changed his mind about any of these,
you are probably wrong.
E. God made some laws concerning ALL slavery.
1. God never condoned oppressing a slave. If you committed
certain injuries, the slave was to be granted his
freedom.
Ex 21:26 And if a man smite the eye of his
servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish;
he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
27 And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth,
or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go
free for his tooth’s sake.
a. This appears to have been a protection for any and
every slave owned by a Jew.
b. Three times in Leviticus the word "rigour" is used.
All three times, it is a command not to rule over
slaves with rigour.
c. However, God did allow a rebellious slave to be beat—
within reason.
Ex 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his
maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he
shall be surely punished.
Ex 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day
or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his
money.
d. I not know what "reason" would mean. No doubt there
was a fine line between making a rebellious slave
obey and killing or injuring him.
2. And God did not require that a run-away slave be returned
to his master. This would no doubt motivate the slave
to make a run for freedom if he thought he could get
away.
De 23:15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master
the servant which is escaped from his master unto
thee:
De 23:16 He shall dwell with thee, even among
you, in that place which he shall choose in one
of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou
shalt not oppress him.
II. \\#6:1-5\\ So what did Paul preach to the slaves?
1Tim 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the
yoke count their own masters worthy of all
honour, that the name of God and his doctrine
be not blasphemed.
A. \\#1\\ Honor your masters. Why?
1. Remember to whom Paul was preaching.
a. To both Jews and Gentiles who were under Roman
servitude.
b. They were conquest slaves, made that way by the
hand of God because of their sins.
c. As conquest slaves, they could even be sold for profit
to others.
d. To dishonor their masters was to dishonor God who
had judged their nation.
e. The gospel was not sent to deliver men’s bodies
from slavery but men’s souls from sin.
f. This was the problem the Jews had with Jesus. They
wanted physical deliverance from the Romans not
spiritual deliverance from sin.
f. God was not ready for that yet.
2. So that God’s name be not blasphemed, slaves were not only
to remain slaves but they were to be the best slaves
possible.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are
your masters according to the flesh, with fear
and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as
unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God
from the heart;
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your
masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of
heart, fearing God:
Titus 2:9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto
their own masters, and to please them well in all
things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good
fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of
God our Saviour in all things.
3. That was to be their CALLING.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling
wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for
it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it
rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a
servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he
that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
4. Such obedience would take great discipline of self
and devotion to God, but it was the will of God.
5. It reminds us that God’s greatest servants are not
preachers who build mega-churches but everyday
Christians who daily bear their cross for Jesus!
B. \\#2\\ Do not despise your believing masters.
1Tim 6:2 And they that have believing masters,
let them 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.
1. Along with giving commands to the slaves, God also
gave commands to the masters.
Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that
which is just and equal; knowing that ye also
have a Master in heaven.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things
unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that
your Master also is in heaven; neither is there
respect of persons with him.
2. However, God did NOT command believing masters to free
their slaves.
a. Perhaps some did and perhaps all should have, but
they did not.
b. No doubt, this caused bitterness among Christians
slaves.
3. Paul reminded the SLAVES that the MASTERS were also
brethren.
a. It is interesting that Paul had to justify the
masters to the slaves not the slaves to the masters.
b. That would tell me that Paul felt like the masters’
behavior was more at odds with Christianity than the
slaves bitterness.
c. Paul writing to Philemon told him to receive the
run-away slave, Onesimus, now not as a servant
but as a brother beloved.
C. \\#3-5\\ To those who would reject Paul’s teaching on slavery.
1. \\#3\\ "If any man teach otherwise and consent not"
a. Paul anticipated some would not like what he had said.
(1) History tells us that the New Testament church
was largely made up of slaves.
(2) So Paul addressed them.
b. "wholesome words"-sound, healthy, uncorrupted words
c. "words of our Lord"-Paul was not speaking on this
topic but Jesus was speaking through him.
2. \\#4-5\\ Then that person is…
a. \\#4\\ "proud"
b. "knows nothing"
c. He is given to "questions and strafes."
d. He produces "envy, strife, railing, evil
surmising….
e. \\#5\\ and "perverse disputings."
f. He is "destitute of truth."
g. He thinks that gain (personal gain for the believer)
is the mark of godliness.
h. All of that would indicate that the person is lost.
3. Paul’s counsel-"from such withdraw thyself."
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