1 Timothy 6 - Introduction
Last Words on Apostolic Doctrine and Duty... [ Continue Reading ]
Last Words on Apostolic Doctrine and Duty... [ Continue Reading ]
_as many servants as are under the yoke_ The position of the Greek words and their meaning are against this rendering. There would be no servants (slaves) who would not be -under the yoke;" but since they were in actual position -under bondage" as slaves, let them recognise facts. Render with R.V. A... [ Continue Reading ]
Timothy's duties in regard to slaves The last of the four sections of special charge (commenced in the previous chapter) is Timothy's attitude towards Christian slaves. The position taken by Christ and His apostles in regard to slavery and the whole -social order" of the world is well known. The ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_rather do_them _service_ Better, SERVE THEM THE RATHER, all the more zealously. _partakers of the benefit_ The article with the participle is clearly subject; and the _masters_are certainly meant. But then divergence arises, Bp Wordsworth making both masters and slaves the benefactors: -they (i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]
_teach otherwise_ More fully R.V., TEACHETH A DIFFERENT DOCTRINE, but even this does not completely give the force; for the -different" is not so much -different from what has just been laid down," as -different from the one true deposit, the creed of all my gospel and all your life;" and helps to f... [ Continue Reading ]
A further warning against false Teachers. Their covetousness From the 3rd verse to the 16th St Paul once again resumes two of the chief topics of the Epistle false teachers" perverted doctrine, and Timothy's own true unswerving life; in each case with a new thought, (1) of the debasing motive of tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_he is proud, knowing nothing_ - PUFFED UP," R.V. The word occurs only here and 1 Timothy 3:6; 2 Timothy 3:4; and goes towards composing the _strong_vocabulary of the Epistles: -filled with a blind "inflated ignorance" " (to quote from Dr Farrar's strong modern vocabulary) may represent the force. T... [ Continue Reading ]
_perverse disputings_ The best attested reading of the Greek word transposes the order of the preposition, and should give us for its meaning -continual collisions." This seems the reason for the rendering of R.V. WRANGLINGS. Compare a similar compound in LXX. 2 Samuel 3:30, and Jos. _Ant_. x. 7. 5.... [ Continue Reading ]
So the Pauline paradox comes out strongly; _godliness with contentment_ IS a way of gain, A GREAT SOURCE OF GAIN. This is spoiled by making the reference to the rewards of heaven. The thought is as in 1 Timothy 4:8, where see the paraphrase quoted of Mark 10:30. St Paul's -way to be wealthy" is by t... [ Continue Reading ]
_we brought nothing into_this _world_ A further reason for contentment is drawn; -the nakedness of our birth and death." Exactly, INTO THE WORLD. and it is _certain_ Editors are divided as to the authority for this word here: the Revisers and Westcott and Hort omit. Inclining to this view with Code... [ Continue Reading ]
_And having food_ Rather, BUT; the opposite, positive view of life. The words for -food" and -raiment" are both unused in N.T. except here; both are in the plural, indicating -supplies of," for each mouth to be fed, each household to be clothed. _raiment_ A rather out-of-the-way word for -clothing,... [ Continue Reading ]
_they that will be rich_ In so wealthy a city as Ephesus the temptation would be very great to the teacher to adapt his -wares" of doctrine to the popular Asiatic speculations, so as to get and keep name and means; and his hearers would be equally tempted to accept such a compromise. There would be... [ Continue Reading ]
_the love of money_ One word in the original, occurring only here and belonging to the later Greek; the adjective in Luke 16:14, -the Pharisees, who were covetous," R.V. -lovers of money," and so 2 Timothy 3:2. -It differs from the ordinary word for covetousness (e.g. Colossians 3:5) (which does not... [ Continue Reading ]
A further exhortation to Timothy. The Lord's appearing Timothy's own true life and bearing are solemnly dwelt upon in contrast to the false and low; see on 1 Timothy 6:3. _thou, O man of God_ Opposed not only to the -some" of 1 Timothy 6:10 but to the -any" of 1 Timothy 6:3. The phrase -man of God... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fight the good fight of faith_ St Paul has now mounted above the lower ground in which Timothy was to maintain the true pastor's _rôle_against his rivals. -The faith," i.e. the Christian creed, the Christian life, is now a -fight," -a strife," a -race," against time and sense, earth and hell. The m... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, who quickeneth_ The word which has the sanction of the mss. points to God as Preserver of Life, rather than as Creator; but R.V. leaves QUICKENETH in the text because - _New_every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove." The word is especially suitable, looking back to the charge... [ Continue Reading ]
_that thou keep this commandment_ THE COMMANDMENT; this phrase in the singular or plural (as indicated above, 1 Timothy 6:13) specially characterises St John's first epistle and is closely linked with the confession of the true Christ: and the commandment there is -love": see e.g. 1 John 3:23. Again... [ Continue Reading ]
_in his times_ R.V. IN ITS OWN TIMES, apparently because sometimes it must be so, e.g. 1 Timothy 2:6; and this would point to a set meaning and quasi-adverbial use. But in Titus 1:2 inconsistently -his own seasons." _the blessed and only Potentate_ The -only," without being polemical, states the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_whom no man hath seen_ -These words as compared with John 1:18 seem to prove decisively that the whole description applies to the Fath the Son." Alford. Between this verse and Matthew 5:8 there is no opposition, the former referring to man with his present bodily powers and iniquities, the latter r... [ Continue Reading ]
them that are _rich in this world_ Or more exactly IN THE PRESENT WORLD, this being the peculiar phrase of these Epistles equivalent to the general -this world." So 2 Timothy 4:10, of Demas -having loved the present world;" Titus 2:12, -live soberly … in this present world." The word -world" is lite... [ Continue Reading ]
A last direction. The Duties of the Rich A postscript follows, with an omitted last word for the richer classes at Ephesus. The -special aspect" under which the last _warning_about false teachers has been viewed by St Paul, and its reflexion in the last _charge_to Timothy, suggests a last addition... [ Continue Reading ]
_that_they _do good_ Another of the many compound words; used however (according to the right reading) of God in providence, Acts 14:17, -in that He did good;" stronger than the ordinary word (e.g. Luke 6:9), and taken up in the next clause; render THAT THEY WORK AT DOING GOOD. _rich in good works_... [ Continue Reading ]
_laying up in store_ The compound verb, again peculiar, is another example of the law of later Greek explained 1 Timothy 6:8. Here we have the riches in the form of -good works" laid _away_as a solid foundation in and _from_which the building rises. This -building up," if the full explanation of the... [ Continue Reading ]
A last Appeal. The keeping of the Deposit 20. See the summary above at 1 Timothy 6:3. This brief _résumé_, at the close, of the main anxiety of the whole Epistle is like the corresponding _résumé_, 1 Timothy 6:16, of the rule for widows, and _v._ 24 of the visitation of presbyters. _O Timothy_ Pre... [ Continue Reading ]
_which some professing_ -Which," this misnamed Gnosis. - _Professing_" has occurred in this sense 1 Timothy 2:10. _have erred_ Lit., -missed the mark," as 1 Timothy 1:6 and 2 Timothy 2:18; aorist as 1 Timothy 6:10. _the faith_ As above, 1 Timothy 6:10. _Grace be with thee_ ms. authority gives the... [ Continue Reading ]