Dr.
Paul Manuel—2020
1 Tim 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 are not to
show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to
serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are
believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on
them.
1 Tim 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not
agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in
controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious
talk, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind who
have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to
financial gain.
1 Tim 6:6 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 People who want
to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful
desires that plunge men 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.
1 Tim 6:11
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.
Outline:
I. Godliness is evident in how you treat others
(vv. 1-2).
A. You
are to be submissive to those in authority.
B. You
are to be servant to those in authority.
Application: Do not use your position
of authority to exploit those under you but adopt the gentle attitude
of Jesus (Matt 12:20)
II. Godliness is evident in what you teach
others (vv. 3-5).
A. You
must impart truth to others.
B. You
must avoid controversy with others
Application: Your job is simply to be
ready if the opportunity should arise to share the good news and then be
sensitive to the needs of the situation (2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 3:15).
III. Contentment is evident in how you regard your
wealth (vv. 6-10).
A. You
should be satisfied with what you already have.
B. You
should be aware of the hazards of seeking more.
Application: Look beyond your
immediate circumstances, no matter how dire they appear, and consider
what God may want to accomplish through you (2 Pet 1:3).
IV. Contentment is evident in how you reflect the
Lord (vv. 11-16).
A. You
can pursue what is eternally valuable.
B. You
can find what is eternally satisfying.
Application: God’s schedule may not
correspond to your schedule, but it will always work to your advantage
(Jer
29:11).
Introduction: Some things go together naturally, like
peanut butter and jelly, or a bow and arrows, or a teenage girl and a mirror.
Jeff’s daughter has just received her learner’s
permit and is eager to drive the family car. She gets in the driver’s side,
adjusts her seat and shoulder belt. After glancing at all the mirrors, she turns
to her father with a puzzled look and complains, “I can’t see myself in any of
these.”
Some things go together naturally, like a
teenage girl and a mirror. The apostle Paul joins two things he thinks are a “A
Profitable Combination,” godliness with contentment. These two attributes are a
natural combination, if not a commonly occurring pair.
Background:
The apostle Paul writes to his protégé Timothy about his spiritual growth as
well as about some problems the young minister is encountering with false
teachers in his congregation.
I. Godliness
is evident in how you treat others (vv. 1-2).
1 Tim 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 are not to show less respect for them because they
are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who
benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the
things you are to teach and urge on them.
Timothy’s congregation consists of slaves (i.e.,
property) and freeborn. Paul begins his instruction by addressing slaves.
A. You
are to be submissive to those in authority.
This is not an unexpected piece of advice
and not one slaves rarely hear. A slaveowner expects his slave to be submissive.[1]
Paul is calling for something different. A believing slave
has a unique opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ, especially to an
unbelieving owner by the way he behaves, submitting not simply because he must
but because it mirrors his service to Christ.[2]
Yet the apostle is concerned not only for proper relationships within the
congregation but also for proper relationships within the community, for the
church’s testimony among the larger society.[3]
Paul warns against activity in the church that would harm its reputation in the
society, and he lobbies for churches to take an active role in society:
I hear that…there are divisions among you. (1 Cor 11:18),
and those outside you have probably heard it as well.
Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual
immorality…because these are improper for God’s holy people. (Eph 5:3)
An overseer must….have a good reputation with
outsiders. (1 Tim 3:2, 7)
Devote themselves to doing what is good. These things
are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8)
As we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people. (Gal 6:10)
People inside the church
(believers) should not ignore what people outside the church (unbelievers) are thinking
about followers of Jesus. Their testimony is important.
B. You
are to be servant to those in authority.
While a slave can comply grudgingly to
orders from his master, Paul is saying he should do so willingly, even
enthusiastically, not because he must but because it signals to his master that
something different is at play. There is a reason for the slave’s positive
attitude, and it concerns the presence of God in the slave’s life, a presence
that can make a difference in his master’s life as well.
Furthermore, it is not enough for a slave to
be obedient to the person in authority over him, even if his owner is a
believer.
Heathen
masters have their claim to service, but Christian masters have an additional
claim in that they are…linked with their slaves by common faith and love….
Equal membership in the Kingdom…is not to be a pretext for the neglect of
social duty to superiors. (Bernard 1980:92)[4]
A
slave must also demonstrate humility. He must obey without animus toward his
owner. As James more broadly instructs the readers of his letter: “God opposes
the proud but gives grace to the humble” (4:6).
Application:
Although slavery is outlawed in America today, most people have a boss, someone
to whom they must answer about the performance of their duties. That boss may
be a hard taskmaster, or he may have a gentle disposition. In any case, he will
not be as benevolent as Jesus, who says,[5]
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
(Matt
11:29-30)
If you are ever in a position of
authority, you will probably have an opportunity to indicate the master you
serve, if not in word then in deed. Do not use your position of authority
to exploit those under you but adopt the gentle attitude of Jesus.
From discussing the activity of slaves,
Paul makes the abrupt shift to discussing the purveyors of false doctrine and
warning Timothy’s parishioners about the hazard they pose.
II. Godliness is evident in what you teach
others (vv. 3-5).
1 Tim 6:3 If
anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of
our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands
nothing.[6]
He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that
result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction
between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think
that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Some people in Timothy’s congregation are
peddling false doctrine and are doing so to the spiritual detriment of
others, stealing from them the life-giving message of the gospel, a trend these
Christians must resist. Paul tells them…
A. You
must impart truth to others.
Christians must recognize what they can
offer to people in general and to those who promote error in particular. Just
as sunlight is an effective disinfectant against germs, a remedy people in the
first century have yet to learn, the truth of Jesus is an effective remedy
against the false doctrine of these heretical teachers. Still…
B. You
must avoid controversy with others
Just because you think you have the answer
to a particular problem does not mean you have to tell everyone, especially if
you know their reaction will be negative.[7]
These false teachers are ready for an argument. Paul says, “Do not give in to
them. The result will only be more argument—more heat, not light.” Some
disputes are over infinitesimal details, like the meaning of “words.” It is counterproductive,
especially when the result is “envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions”
(v. 4). It also betrays the mindset of those who pursue such activity as
“corrupt [and] robbed of the truth” (v. 5).
Application: It is always possible
when telling someone about the gospel that the response will be negative,
especially when it comes with the accusation that the person is a sinner and
actually needs the gospel. That is why your presentation must be careful.
Paul’s advice in his second letter and Peter’s advice in his first letter
reminds us that communicating one’s faith should never be a callous affair, as
if your listener’s situation matters less than the number of contacts you make:
Be prepared in
season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience
and careful instruction. (2 Tim 4:2)
Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
(1 Pet 3:15)
Remember that you can convince no one;
that is God’s job. Your job is simply to be ready if the opportunity arises to share
the truth and be sensitive to the needs of the situation.
Now Paul turns to the central focus of his
concern, how Timothy should respond to these false teachers who regard
financial gain as what is most important in life.
III. Contentment is evident in how you regard your
wealth (vv. 6-10).
1 Tim 6:6
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 People who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men
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.
Verse 6 contains the most important
observation in the section: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” It is
also Paul’s recommendation for dealing with these false teachers who think that
enough money can solve any problem.[8]
A. You
should be satisfied with what you already have.
While having enough money can rectify many
problems, it is not the solution to every problem.[9]
Some difficulties can only be rectified with divine intervention. In any case,
the repeated advice in scripture is to be content with what you have:[10]
The
fear of the Lord leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Prov 19:23)
Some
soldiers asked [John the Baptist], “What should we do?” He replied, “Don’t
extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:14)
I
have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether
living in plenty or in want. (Phil 4:12)
Be content
with what you
have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(Heb 13:5)
That
is Paul’s advice here, and he cautions Timothy about the danger of seeking
financial relief apart from God.
B. You
should be aware of the hazards of seeking more.
Money can actually exacerbate a bad situation,
making some matters worse, leading people “who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men
into ruin and destruction” (v. 10). Paul recommends that Timothy and his
congregants be satisfied with what they have and concentrate on living in a
manner that pleases God, “godliness” (v. 6). The adjunct, contentment,
is “one of the greatest assets of life” (Earle 1978:384). The alternative, being
“pierced…with
many griefs” (v. 10), is uninviting.
Application: Whether it is the state
of your wealth or the state of your health, it is best if you view God as the
proper custodian of both and adopt the attitude of Job after he suffered the
loss of his wealth and his health:
The Lord gave and the Lord
has taken away; may the name of the Lord
be praised. (1:21)
While
that is a laudable perspective, it is not an easy one to adopt, especially when
other concerns vie for your attention, concerns that seem more pressing.
As Jesus said,
Do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34)
…and…
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do
you worry about the rest? (Luke
12:25-26)
The goal is godliness. So, whatever
will get you to that state is what you should do. It is not an elusive goal. In
fact, Peter says God’s “divine power has given [you] everything [you] need for…godliness through [y]our knowledge of him who called [you] by his
own glory and goodness” (2 Pet 1:3). The challenge is to look beyond your immediate circumstances,
no matter how dire they appear, and consider what God may want to accomplish
through you.
After Paul addresses the problem of those
who are fixated on how they can exploit members of Timothy’s congregation, he
explains how the young minister’s being content himself reinforces God’s work
in his life and prepares him for what may lie ahead.
IV. Contentment is evident in how you reflect the
Lord (vv. 11-16).
1 Tim 6:11
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[11]
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,[12]
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.
Paul tells Timothy he should not allow the
confusion these false teachers are fomenting to deter him from his own spiritual
growth, a commitment he made “in the presence of many witnesses” (v. 12).[13]
A. You
can pursue what is eternally valuable.
Keep
your attention on the goal: “Fight the good fight of the faith.”
(v. 12).[14]
This presupposes a body of belief that the Christian can know and adhere to.
“The faith” is a term Paul uses frequently in his letters. It implies a corpus
of belief that most Christians hold, what Paul refers to earlier as “the truths of the faith” (1
Tim 4:6):
Walk in…the faith. (Rom 4:12)
Stand firm in the faith. (1 Cor
16:13)
[Contend] for the faith. (Phil
1:27)
Keep the faith. (2 Tim 4:7)
Paul lists a series of attributes that constitute the faith and
should characterize the Christian: “righteousness, godliness…love, endurance…gentleness”
(v. 11). Unfortunately, “in
later times some will abandon the faith” (1 Tim 4:1), as is the case with the
false teachers. Still, Paul assures Timothy, you can
pursue what is eternally valuable, and…
B. You
can find what is eternally satisfying.
Paul wants them to keep in mind that they
are in very good company. Jesus himself faced opposition when he appeared
“before Pontius Pilate” (v. 13). This allusion to a past event reminds Paul’s
audience that God has His own timetable, not
dependent on man’s schedule. Even future events He will bring about “in His own time” (v. 15). Until then,
it is important that Timothy and those with him be content. Paul’s doxology
summarizes his view of the one he and Timothy serve:[15]
God, the blessed and only
Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 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.
Application: Do not be dismayed when
your plans do not materialize as you think they should. God’s plans, which are
the only plans that really count, are always on track and are always on time:
I
know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future. (Jer 29:11)
Be patient and wait for God to answer,
even as you wait patiently for Jesus’ return:
Be patient,
brothers, until the Lord’s coming…. Be patient and stand firm, because the
Lord’s coming is near. (Jms 5:7-8)
God’s schedule may not correspond to your schedule, but
it will always work to your advantage.
Conclusion: Paul writes to encourage and instruct Timothy as the young minister
shepherds a group of believers at Ephesus in Asia Minor. Paul must continue
training his young charge as well as address a problem any such new group
faces, individuals who promote false doctrine. This dual challenge, to
encourage and to warn, continues to challenge believers today, and Paul’s dual
advice is still “A Profitable Combination.” Pursue godliness with contentment.
That pairing “is of great gain” (6:6).
Bibliography
Bernard,
J.H.
1980 The
Pastoral Epistles. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, reprint ed.
Earle, Ralph
1978 “1, 2 Timothy.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 11. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Publishing House.
Manuel, Paul http://paulwmanuel. blogspot.com
2008-10 “False Prophets” (Matt 7:15-23), a Sermon from
the series Messages from Matthew on the
Ministry of Jesus.
2011 “Is the Sabbath a Universal
Requirement?” An excerpt from “A Study of Law and Grace: Finding the Proper Balance.”
2015 “Beware of False Teachers”
(2 Pet 2). [Sermon]
2016 “Adopting the Sabbath.” [Essay]
2020 “Kashrut: To Eat or Not to Eat” (1 Tim
4:1-5). [Sermon]
Towner,
Philip H.
2006 The
Letters to Timothy and Titus. NICNT. Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[1]“The Apostles and their successors were ever
careful…to preach to slaves the duty of obedience to their masters, in the
existing condition of society” (Bernard 1980:91).
[2]“Slaves were to commend their religion by the
performance of their duty in their humble station” (Bernard 1980:92).
Paul and Peter make a similar
appeal regarding secular authority:
Rom 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established….
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to
the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience.
1 Pet 2:13 Submit
yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether
to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him
to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is
God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish
men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;
live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the
brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
Similarly,
Paul counsels all believers in his letter to the Ephesian church with a
reciprocal command:
Eph 5:21 Submit to one another
out of reverence for Christ.
Here, he
focuses on slaves advising them to be submissive to those in authority
over them.
[3]Luke
notes the positive effect the church has on society:
Acts 15:12 Barnabas and Paul [were] telling about the miraculous signs and
wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 21:19 Paul…reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles
through his ministry.
Most
of Paul’s concerns are that sin within the church will give people outside the
church the impression Christians are no different than anyone else.
Rom 2:24 God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
1 Cor 5:1 There is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does
not occur even among pagans.
In the end, God
has wonderful things in store for those who look to Him:
Col 1:27 God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious
riches of this mystery.
[4]The author of
Hebrews extols the virtue of submission:
Heb
12:9 We
have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How
much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Heb
13:17 Obey
your leaders and submit to their authority. They
keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their
work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Peter extols the virtue of humility:
1 Pet 3:8 Live in
harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate
and humble.
1 Pet 5:5 Clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, because, “God opposes
the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
[5]John the Baptist makes a similar observation:
Matt 12:20 A
bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
[6]I address the subject of false teachers in other
sermons (2008-10, 2015, 2020).
[7]This was my own response to discovering what I
assumed was an omission in my early education as a Christian by those who
should have known better (Manuel 2016). When I realized the desideratum, I
wanted to tell everyone, not understanding that others might not be as enthusiastic
as I was, or that they would not be in a position to agree with my discovery. Years
later, and upon careful reflection, I was able to adopt a more nuanced and
informed view of the matter (Manuel 2011).
[8]The adage “you can’t take it with you” probably
comes from Paul’s remark here (v. 7), as does the proverb: “the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil” (v. 10).
[9]“Material possessions…cannot pass though the
veil, and if they could, we would have arrived better equipped” (Towner
2006:400).
[10]The
opposite of contentment is not a condition one should seek:
Prov 27:20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and
neither are the eyes of man.
Eccl 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough [and] is never satisfied with his income.
[11]Paul issues different charges in his epistles:
1
Thess 5:27
I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
1
Tim 5:21 I
charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus
and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do
nothing out of favoritism.
2
Tim 4:1 In
the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the
dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
[12]Here, this title applies to God the Father; elsewhere
it applies to God the Son:
Rev
17:14 The
Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.
Rev 19:16 On
his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS.
[13]Paul refers elsewhere in this letter to what
may have been Timothy’s ordination:
1 Tim 4:14
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when
the body of elders laid their hands on you.
[14]This pugilistic struggle is how Paul summarizes
his own life, and it embodies the advice he gives to others:
1 Cor 9:26 I do not fight like a man beating the
air.
1 Tim 1:18 Timothy…I give you this instruction…so
that…you may fight the good fight.
2 Tim 4:7 I
have fought the good fight.
[15]Paul inserts a doxology at other places in his
epistles:
Rom
1:25 The Creator…is forever praised.
Amen.
Rom
11:36 From him and through him and
to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
1 Tim 1:17 To
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs