Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1-2

Bird's-eye view

In these concluding instructions of his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul addresses one of the most socially complex and spiritually charged realities of the first-century world: the institution of slavery. As he does elsewhere, Paul does not address the institution with a program of violent, revolutionary abolition. Rather, he addresses the individuals within the institution, Christian slaves and Christian masters, with the subversive and transformative demands of the gospel. The instructions are intensely practical and are aimed squarely at the public witness of the church. The conduct of believers within these established social structures was a primary apologetic for the truth of the gospel. A rebellious spirit among slaves would bring the name of God into disrepute, while a godly and respectful demeanor, even under difficult circumstances, would adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. When the master is also a brother in Christ, the obligation is not lessened but intensified, grounded in the love and mutual benefit that flows from their shared faith. Paul is laying the groundwork for the gospel to dismantle the sinful aspects of the institution from the inside out, not by political revolution, but by spiritual regeneration.

This passage is a potent reminder that Christianity does not operate by first changing the political structures, but by first changing the human heart. The gospel creates a new reality where earthly distinctions like "slave" and "free" are relativized by the higher reality of being "brothers" in Christ. This new reality then works its way out into the social fabric, not with the methods of carnal warfare, but with the quiet power of honor, respect, and faithful service, all for the sake of the name of God.

Outline

Context In 1 Timothy

Paul's letter to Timothy is a pastoral manual for a young minister tasked with setting the church in Ephesus in order. The letter is filled with instructions on sound doctrine, proper worship, qualifications for church officers, and the conduct of various groups within the church. Chapter 6 comes as the culmination of these practical instructions. Having addressed elders, widows, and now slaves, Paul is covering the key relationships within the covenant community. These instructions about slaves and masters are not an isolated ethical aside; they are integral to Paul's vision of a well-ordered church whose corporate life commends the gospel to a watching world. This section immediately precedes a stern warning against false teachers who cause division and pursue greed, which stands in stark contrast to the humble, faithful service Paul requires here. The command to "teach and exhort these things" at the end of our passage links this instruction directly to Timothy's central task of guarding the good deposit of faith.

Key Issues

The Gospel's Slow Revolution

Modern readers often come to a passage like this with a host of anachronistic assumptions. We read it through the lens of the American chattel slavery system, and we wonder why Paul isn't calling for immediate, violent emancipation. But to do so is to misunderstand both the historical context and the Bible's method of social transformation. The New Testament was written into a world where slavery was a ubiquitous, deeply embedded economic and social reality, far different from the race-based man-stealing enterprise of the American South. The Bible condemns man-stealing in no uncertain terms (Ex. 21:16; 1 Tim. 1:10), but it addresses the existing institution of slavery by regulating it and planting the seeds of its eventual demise.

The gospel works like leaven in a lump of dough. It does not begin by dynamiting the bakery. It begins by changing the nature of the constituent elements. Paul's strategy is not worldly revolution but spiritual subversion. By commanding masters to treat their slaves with justice and fairness, as he does in Ephesians and Colossians, and by commanding slaves to work with honor and integrity, he is introducing a set of ethics that is fundamentally incompatible with the brutal core of pagan slavery. By redefining the master-slave relationship as one of brotherhood in Christ, he is lighting a long fuse that will eventually obliterate the institution. But it must be done in a way that adorns the gospel, not in a way that makes Christianity look like just another radical political movement, like that of the Zealots.

Verse by Verse Commentary

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be slandered.

Paul begins with a general instruction to all Christian slaves, particularly those with unbelieving masters. The "yoke" is a common metaphor for slavery, signifying submission and bondage. The command is not to enjoy the yoke, but to conduct oneself rightly while under it. They are to regard their masters as worthy of all honor. This does not mean the master is inherently honorable in his character; he may well be a cruel pagan. Rather, it is a command to give honor to the office or position the master holds. It is a functional respect, a recognition of the existing social structure. The Christian is to be the best, most respectful, and hardest-working slave in the household. Why? The reason is paramount: so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be slandered. The public witness of the gospel was at stake. If Christian slaves were known for being insubordinate, rebellious, and disrespectful, the watching pagan world would conclude that this new religion is a socially disruptive force, a menace to public order. They would blaspheme the God of the Christians and dismiss their teaching as nonsense. The behavior of the lowest members of the church had a direct impact on the reputation of God Himself.

2 But those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

Now Paul turns to the special case, which was a uniquely Christian dilemma. What happens when a slave's master becomes a Christian? The temptation would be to presume upon the new relationship. One might think, "He is my brother now, so I don't have to work as hard. We are equals in Christ, so I can slack off." Paul says the exact opposite. The slave must not be disrespectful, using their shared brotherhood as a pretext for insubordination. On the contrary, he must serve them all the more. The motivation is flipped on its head. You are not serving a mere master; you are serving a brother in Christ. The service is elevated from a grudging duty to a willing act of love. The reason is beautiful: because the ones who receive the benefit of your good work are themselves believers and beloved. Your hard work is now a direct blessing to a fellow member of the family of God. The earthly relationship is still there, but it is now shot through with the light of a new, eternal reality. The command to Timothy to teach and exhort these things shows how central this practical, household teaching was to the health of the church and the advance of the gospel. This was not a secondary issue; it was a matter of first importance.

Application

While the institution of slavery is no longer a part of our social landscape, the principles in this text are timeless. The passage teaches us that our conduct in our secular vocations and stations is a primary form of Christian witness. How do you conduct yourself at your job? Are you under the "yoke" of a difficult or unreasonable boss? The command is to render honor and respect, not because the boss is necessarily worthy, but because the name of God is worthy. Your work ethic, your attitude, and your respect for authority are all part of your apologetic. A lazy, grumbling, insubordinate Christian employee slanders the doctrine of God just as surely as a rebellious first-century slave did.

Furthermore, this passage revolutionizes our relationships with fellow believers. When you are working for or with a fellow Christian, the standard is not lowered; it is raised. You should be the best employee a Christian boss ever had, and the best boss a Christian employee ever had. Our shared identity in Christ should motivate us to serve one another with even greater diligence and love. We are not just working for a paycheck or for a company; we are partaking in a mutual benefit with those who are "believers and beloved." Our work becomes an expression of our love for the brethren. In every station of life, from the boardroom to the breakroom, we are to live in such a way that the world looks on and sees that our God is great and His doctrine is beautiful.