1 Timothy 6:1

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. as many as are bondservants under the yoke. -The yoke of slavery" is applied metaphorically, Galatians 5:1, to the old legal dispensation. The use of the word is derived from the old custom of making prisoners of war pass under a -yoke" formed of a spear laid crosswise on two upright spears, to denote the yoke of slavery being laid upon them. The reference in Christ's words, Matthew 11:29, -take my yoke" is rather to the yoke coupling cattle for drawing.

their own masters The adjective here rendered -their own" is in N.T. -used instead of a personal pronoun by the same kind of misuse as when in later Latin propriustakes the place of eiusor suus;" Winer, § 22, 7. As Alford on Ephesians 5:22 says, it serves -to intensify the relationship and enforce its duties." We have sixteen instances of the use in these Epistles, e.g. Titus 2:9.

his doctrine Again the special teaching of the Christian religion, which would be -evil spoken of" by being supposed to teach a subversive socialism.