The First Epistle to Timothy Chapter 6

[뉴맨]

The First Epistle to Timothy Chapter 6

Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1TI.6.NIV

Master and Slave

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.(1, Slavery in the Bible)

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. These are the things you are to teach and insist on. (Christian ethics in the secular world; respect each other, no abuse of relationship, serve each other regardless social status.)

False Teachers and the Love of Money

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. (There will be false teachers and their teachings in the church.) 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. (They uses their leadership position for their personal fame and gain.)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (But the true reward of the leadership has the best gain in the Kingdom of God. It is not personal financial or social but God's glory. Remember the "Useless Servant." Lk. 17:7-10)

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (We live momentary in this world but the Kingdom of God is eternal. Ps. Ch.90)

8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (Christian must live decent, simple, and humble life. Extras are all for sharing and service.)

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. (Remember the three temptations; lust of the flesh, desire of what you see, and pride from position, possession, and power to control.)

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. (Desire of wealth brings us away from God. We freely share and serve with what has been given to us freely. Mt. 10:8)

Final Charge to Timothy (Christian Value System)

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (A man of God should keep oneself from the evil gut pursue the godly life publicly and privately.)

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. (Our fight is not of worldly but heavenly.)

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. (Our mission has been givin by God and Jesus, who's the source of everything.)

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. (The wealth of this world is temporary but our perspective should be eternal.)

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. (We must use our resources to share our blessings with others. This is how we convert the worldy value to the Kingdom value; moment to eternity. Mt. 6:19-21)

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. (We must guard ourselves, particularly when we felt that we are at the top of our ministry.) 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. (Stay in and focus on the substance of faith, not the outward happenings.)

Grace be with you all.

(1)Slavery in the Bible (Google AI)

Slavery appears throughout the Bible, regulated in the Old Testament with rules for treatment and release (especially for Hebrew servants), but also permitting permanent chattel slavery for foreigners, while the New Testament commands slaves and masters to act rightly within the existing system, with Paul's letters urging kindness and obedience but not condemning the institution itself, laying groundwork for its eventual decline through spiritual equality in Christ. Biblical slavery differed from modern racial slavery, with rules in place for basic human dignity, rest, and eventual freedom for Israelites, but it was a recognized social structure, not universally condemned, though later Christian interpretations increasingly opposed race-based slavery.

Eph. 6:5-9, 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Paul wrote this letter for Timothy but it is desirable for every believers.