Summary of 1 Timothy, Chapter 6

Paul urges those who are slaves to honor their masters, so that God's name and the way of Christ may not get a bad name. Even if the master is Christian, the slaves should not neglect their duties. Rather, they should be more inclined to serve them.

Those who teach false doctrine are inflated with pride, and do not have true knowledge -- rather, they wander in word-battles and endless discussions, from which come envy, strife, blasphemies, evil suspicions, conflicts with those who think religion is a means of financial gain. Religion with contentment really is a great gain, though not financially. We came into this world with nothing, and when we leave we cannot take anything material with us. If we have food and shelter, that should be enough. For those who want to be rich fall into temptations and foolish desires. Love of money is a root of all evils. Some in this have wandered from the faith. But Timothy should flee these things, and instead pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, patience, meekness. He should fight the good fight and gain the eternal life to which we are called, for which he made the good profession of faith before many witnesses. Just as Jesus Himself made the good confession before Pilate so Timothy should imitate Him while waiting for the manifestation of Jesus at the end. He alone has immortality, and lives in inaccessible light. To Him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

He wants Timothy to tell those who are rich in the worldly way not to be proud, or to put their hope in uncertain riches. Rather they should hope in God who provides us with all things. They should do good, and become rich in good works, sharing their wealth with others, and laying up a real treasure for themselves in the world to come.

He ends by exhorting Timothy to guard well what has been entrusted to him, and to avoid vain and foolish ideas. Some going into those notions have erred in the faith. May grace be with him.

Comments on Chapter 6

Paul's words about slaves here may be surprising. Please recall the explanations given earlier, in comments on 1 Corinthians 7:21.

Paul returns again to warning about false doctrine. As we said earlier, we cannot be sure what kind of false teachers he may have in mind. They are more likely Jewish speculators than Gnostics, to judge from Paul's comments in the Epistle to Titus 1:14 and 3:9. In Titus 3:10 Paul will advise him to avoid such false teachers if they do not reform after one or two warnings. It seems these teachers are also trying to make money.

So Paul speaks against the love of money. He calls it a root of all kinds of evils. He did not say the for there are other roots too. He says we cannot take money out of this world with us. But later, in verses 18-19, he says one can have treasure in heaven by doing good now with money or otherwise, cf. Matthew 6:19-20.

The profession of faith mentioned was that required for acceptance into the Church. Paul spoke of it also in Romans 10:9-10.