The Epistle of 1st Timothy
Chapter 6

Introduction

In this last chapter Paul continues instructing the church concerning its ministry. As a military general giving orders to a subordinate, Paul "charges" Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. There are four main divisions found in 1 Timothy 6. The first division is found in verses 1-2 where Paul instructs how saints should treat their employers (masters). Secondly, in verses 3-10 Paul discusses the marks and motives of false teachers. This was a much a problem then as it is now. Thirdly, in verses 11-21 Paul teaches Pastor Timothy that he should flee evil, follow righteousness, fight the good fight of faith, and to be faithful. Finally, Paul instructs Timothy of the snare of riches. He gives four important principles concerning wealth as we will see.

Christian Slaves (Servants) - 1 Timothy 6:1-2

As we examine 1 Timothy 6:1-2 we find that believers are to aware of their opportunity to witness as employees. Although Paul uses the term "slaves" and "masters", we should find no problem correlating these same principles in our own employment. The same instruction can be found in Titus 2:9-10. In Titus 2:11-14 Paul also gives that young pastor a wonderful reason that should motivate the incorporation of these principles.

Paul teaches that the main reason that employees should be respectful of their employers is so that the name of God and His doctrines (teachings) be not blasphemed. Whenever professing Christians complain, are disrespectful to their employers, and are slothful and irresponsible, the name of God is tarnished. Our testimonies will either uphold the Lord or bring reproach upon Him. We have no choice in this matter. Whether we want to be soldiers of Jesus Christ or not is immaterial. If we have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, we ARE soldiers. The question we need to answer honestly is, "What kind of soldier are we?" Paul adds to verse 1 by stating that if we have "believing masters (employers), we most certainly should have no reason to despise them since they are brethren. This is another way of stating the same thing that Christ said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).

If a person has a Christian employer, Paul says that there is even more reason that we should honor them. Again let us consider the principle taught in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Sadly, there are many believers who take advantage of their employers because they are Christians! Paul states three reasons why servants (slaves) should respect "believing masters (employers): 1.) Because they ARE faithful (believing) 2.) Because they are Beloved by God 3.) Because everyone benefits from the blessings that follow.

False Teachers - 1 Timothy 6:3-10

In this section of 1 Timothy 6 Paul deals with the subject of handling false teachers. These lessons can be divided into two sections: 1.) The Marks of False Teachers (vss. 3-5a) 2.) The Motives of False Teachers (vss. 5b-10). Let us take a close examination of what the Apostle Paul teaches young Timothy, who was encountering a great deal of false teaching in the city of Ephesus. We will find that these same important lessons will be very helpful in our present day as well.

vss. 3-5a In dealing with the "Marks of False Teachers" Paul states in verse 3 that they "teach otherwise, and consent not to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which according to godliness." The first and greatest acid test of teacher is true or false is their discernment of the Word of God. However, if a believer is not a student of the Word himself, it will be impossible for them to know the difference. This should motivate every Christian to "study to shew thyself approved unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15a).

Paul addressed the need for believers to learn the Scriptures in Ephesians 4:11-15, citing that those who are not knowledgeable are like "children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive." Believers should have an insatiable appetite for the Word of God! A person who has fallen in love wants to know all that there is to know about the object of their affection. The same should be true in the spiritual realm. When a person has fallen in love with Christ there should be a desire to know all that there is to know about Him. This was Paul’s thought in Philippians 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."

Secondly, Paul identifies another mark of false teachers as being "proud". Teachers of the truth have a "burning heart", not a "big head". Arrogance has no place in the pulpit! Pride is the first thing that is mentioned on God’s seven most hated attributes of mankind (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Thirdly, Paul identifies false teachers as "knowing nothing". When a person studies and learns what the Word of God teaches, it will become painfully obvious that many people who profess to be scholars actually are not! As a new convert people are prone to believe anything a preacher says simply because he is called a preacher. After studying and maturing as a believer, however, one learns that not all so-called preachers "rightly divide the Word of God." In 2 Timothy 4:1-4 Paul charges Timothy to "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and DOCTRINE. For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers (false teachers), having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the TRUTH, and shall be turned unto FABLES (false teachings)." We are living in such a day as foretold by Paul. Many false teachers have no concept of the Word of God, yet they stand and emphatically proclaim "another gospel" than that which our Lord Jesus Christ preached.

Fourthly, Paul says that these false teachers are actually "doters". The word "doting" means "filled with a morbid desire; sick". Paul states that false teachers are "sickening" and with their questions do no more than gender envy, strife, railings, and evil surmising. They stir up more trouble than do good. They major on the minors and appeal to the flesh rather than the spiritual. One of the greatest tragedies of the charismatic movement today is that they love to brag "receiving the Holy Ghost". They contend that "the gift of the Holy Ghost" is conditioned upon their ability to "speak in tongues", which is nothing but pride packaged in religious garble! The truth is given in Romans 8 which teaches that it is impossible for a person to be born-again without the Holy Spirit. To teach that a person can be saved, yet not be a recipient of the Holy Spirit is "false teaching."

Fifthly, Paul characterizes false teachers as "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness". Their teachings do not gain them anything but condemnation! These men are self-centered, corrupt, and without knowledge of the truth! No wonder Paul emphatically exhorts all believers to withdraw themselves from such false teachers.

vss. 5b The next aspect of false teachers instructed by Paul concerns the "Motives for False Teachers" and is recorded in 1 Timothy 6:5b-10. Paul gives several motives why false teachers do not desire to teach the truth. First, he states that they are motivated by "financial gain". "Filthy lucre" is monetary gain which has been acquired by wrong or immoral methods. How sad that there are men and women who use the pulpit to pad their own pocketbooks! There are many "false teachers" who "PRAY" with their congregations on Sundays, and then they "PREY" on them the rest of the week!

Paul states that money is the determining why these false teachers teach. Preachers are certainly laborers worthy of their hire (1 Timothy 5:17-18), and they who preach and teach the truth should be counted worthy of double honor. No one should ever make an accusation concerning pastors without two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:17; 19), but Paul says that these false teachers teach heresy in order to take advantage of their flocks.

vss. 6-10 Paul takes up the matter of covetousness in these verses since it is such a prominent motive for false teachers. He warns Timothy of the terrible affect that materialism and covetousness has on the believer. These five aspects are important lessons for everyone, whether saved or lost, and we should take heed to remember them. First, he states that "Money does not bring contentment" (vs. 6). Paul stated the same principle to the Philippians in Chapter 4:11. Solomon teaches us the same important lesson in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Secondly, Paul states that "Money is not lasting" (vs. 7). It is a surety that no man can take his material possessions with him when he dies. As one preacher said, "I have yet to see a hearse with a U-Haul attached to it headed for the graveyard." Thirdly, he teaches us that "Contentment should be the comfort in knowing that our basic needs of life are met daily" (vs. 8). What a lesson for us all to take heed to in our lives. So often we are guilty of complaining and coveting what we do not have. We forget that God has promised to supply ALL of our NEEDS, not all of our desires. Fourthly, Paul teaches us that the "Riches are often a snare which cause us more harm than good" (vs. 9). How true this principle of God’s Word is! When we are consumed with getting ahead materially, we soon find ourselves in worse financial shape than before! Certainly, we find ourselves worse off spiritually. We are exhorted to "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness", and when we give God His proper preeminence in our hearts and lives, everything will fall in its proper order. Fifthly, he teaches us that the "LOVE of money leads to SIN" (vs. 10). Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of it is. Those who put their desire of money before God are practicing idolatry. Paul states that "they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many arrows." Those who spiritually suffer for this reason have no one to blame but themselves! This brings us back to verse 6 - Money does not bring contentment - Godliness does.

The Pastor - 1 Timothy 6:11-16; 20-21

vs. 11a Now Paul instructs Timothy concerning the behavior of pastors. First, he admonishes young Timothy to "Flee from Evil!" The world views "fleeing" or "running away" as being cowardly, however, in spiritual matters, running away from or fleeing temptations is not considered weak; rather it is often WISE!

Paul taught the Corinthians, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." All believers should realize that we are no match for the forces that oppose the Spirit. However, as we yield ourselves to God, He is able to overcome the lusts of the flesh, the world, and the devil. Fleeing evil is good advice that should be heeded by all believers.

vs. 11b Secondly, Paul instructs Timothy to "Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." All of these attributes describe a person who is Spirit-filled or led by the Holy Spirit. "Righteousness" deals with one’s character, while "Godliness" deals with one’s conduct. A believer’s conduct is directly affected by one’s character. What is in our heart always manifests itself in our words and our works.

vss. 12-16 Thirdly, in these closing verses Paul gives Timothy charge to "Fight the Good Fight of Faith". There is much involved in fighting this fight. The verb "fight" literally means "to keep on fighting". It refers to the believer who is in a battle with Satan and his demons. We should be constantly in a position as Christians to "contend for the faith" (Jude 3). Just as Nehemiah and his men carried both a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, we too will find ourselves building and battling against the forces that oppose Christ.

When will this "battle" ever end? Paul tells us that we are to continuing "fighting the good fight of faith" until the "appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which is his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

vss. 20-21 Fourthly, Paul admonishes Pastor Timothy to "Be Faithful". The word "keep" is a military term which means "to guard" or "garrison". We are to constantly keep an eye on our own spiritual well-being. So often ministers are so concerned with ministering to others that they forget to "keep that which is committed to thy trust." May God help us as preachers to remember this important admonition.

Being faithful means so much more than simply coming to church regularly. It also means "avoiding profane and vain babblings". Again we find Paul teaching Timothy to "flee"; "guard against"; "keep a distance from" SIN. We can never be too conscious of our own spiritual welfare. Backsliding is a result of taking our mind off of the things of God and placing them upon the things of the world or the flesh. No wonder Paul taught the Philippians to "think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Paul had received the truth from the Lord Jesus Christ. Now Paul commits Timothy to pass it on to others. This is how the message of Jesus Christ has been spread from the beginning. In Paul’s 2^nd Epistle to Timothy Paul wrote, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:1-2). This is the commission to all preachers, but every born-again believer should be able to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others in some capacity.

The Rich - (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

We conclude Chapter 6 by discussing verses 17-19. Here Paul again addresses the issue of wealth or riches. It would seem obvious that the "rich" in Ephesus were causing young Pastor Timothy problems in the church. It would seem that things never change. There are still wealthy people in churches today that try to persuade others to agree with them because of their financial influence. Furthermore, it is even more sad that many of the congregation members are swayed by their appeals.

Paul gives good advice to pastors in regard to ministering to the rich folks within the church. He states "4 Principles of Wealth" that should be preached from the pulpit. 1.) Do not allow money to cause one to become arrogant. 2.) Trust in God, not riches. 3.) It is alright to enjoy wealth because it is God who gives riches 4.) Wealth should be utilized by believers to help others come to Christ.

It is obvious that these same principles need to be taught from the pulpits of churches today. Paul wrote to Timothy in his 2^nd Epistle by saying, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Let us pray that we will all become "more thoroughly furnished unto all good works" as we study His precious, wonderful Word.