1 Timothy 6:1

CHAPTER VI.

Of the duty of servants, 1, 2.

Of false teachers, who suppose gain to be godliness, 3-5.

Of true godliness, and contentment, 6-8.

Of those, and their dangerous state, who determine to be rich;

and of the love of money, 9,10.

Timothy is exhorted to fight the good fight of faith, and to

keep the charge delivered to him, 11-14.

A sublime description of the majesty of God, 15, 16.

How the rich should behave themselves; and the use they should

make of their property, 17-19.

Timothy is once more exhorted to keep what was committed to his

trust; and to avoid profane babblings, through which some have

erred from the faith, 20, 21.

NOTES ON CHAP. VI.

Verse 1 Timothy 6:1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke] The word δουλοι here means slaves converted to the Christian faith; and the ζυγον, or yoke, is the state of slavery; and by δεσποται, masters, despots, we are to understand the heathen masters of those Christianized slaves. Even these, in such circumstances, and under such domination, are commanded to treat their masters with all honour and respect, that the name of God, by which they were called, and the doctrine of God, Christianity, which they had professed, might not be blasphemed-might not be evilly spoken of in consequence of their improper conduct. Civil rights are never abolished by any communications from God's Spirit. The civil state in which a man was before his conversion is not altered by that conversion; nor does the grace of God absolve him from any claims, which either the state or his neighbour may have on him. All these outward things continue unaltered. Ephesians 6:5, c. and "1 Corinthians 7:21", c., and especially the observations at the end of that chapter.