1 Timothy 6:2

2. The exceptional case of Christian masters is next dealt with

οἱ δὲ πιστοὺς κ.τ.λ., let those who have believers as their masters not despise them, because they are brethren. Equal membership in the Kingdom of Christ is not to be a pretext for the neglect of social duty to superiors.

ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον δουλ., but let them serve them the rather. μᾶλλον is emphatic (cp. Romans 14:13; Ephesians 5:4); heathen masters have their claim to service, but Christian masters have an additional claim in that they are πιστοὶ καὶ�, linked with their slaves by common faith and love.

πιστοί εἰσιν καὶ�. κ.τ.λ. πιστοὶ καὶ� must be the predicate of the sentence, which determines that οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας�, the subject, must be a description of the masters who have already been called πιστοὺς at the beginning of the verse. ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι only occurs twice elsewhere in the N.T., viz. Luke 1:54 (in a quotation from the LXX. where it is frequent) and Acts 20:35 (in a speech of St Paul); in both these instances it is equivalent to succurrere, a meaning which is not applicable here. In late Greek, however, it sometimes means ‘to be sensible of,’ percipere, of anything which acts upon the senses (cp. Porphyr. de Abstin. i. 46 μήτε ἐσθίων πλειόνων ἡδονῶν�); and so may be rendered here (with all the versions) ‘to partake of.’ εὐεργεσία is (a) not the Benefit of Redemption; that is not here in question. And as (b) the masters are the subject of the sentence, it can have no reference to the benefits which they may confer upon their slaves. It remains therefore that we take it (c) as the benefit which the masters receive from the heartiness of their slaves’ obedience. Alford cites an apposite passage from Seneca (de benef. III. 21), in which the question an beneficium dare servus domino possit is answered in the affirmative, and where the definition is given quidquid est quod servilis officii formulam excedit, quod non ex imperio sed ex voluntate praestatur, beneficium est. We therefore translate the words before us, because they that are partakers [sc. the masters] of the benefit [the improved quality of the service] are faithful and beloved. The A.V. is here incorrect.

ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει. see on 1 Timothy 4:11. The only question is as to the reference of ταῦτα. It may refer to what follows, but the usage of it in similar contexts throughout the Epistle (1 Timothy 3:14; 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:15) makes it more probable that it refers to what precedes, viz. the directions just given about the demeanour of slaves.