The Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy 6 (1)

Pray Psalm 140.6, 7.
I said to the LORD: “You are my God;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.

Read and meditate on 1 Timothy 6.1, 2.

Preparation.
1. Historians have estimated that as many as 75% of the population of the Roman Empire in the days of Paul were slaves of some sort. Should it seem strange to us that slaves were members in good standing of churches? Explain.

2. What incentive for good conduct did Paul hold out to the Christian slaves?

Meditate. 
Slavery was a given during the days of the apostle Paul. But that does not mean that slavery is to be regarded as normative. Already, in Paul’s own writings, we see the foundation being laid for the destruction of this inhumane institution.

In Galatians 3.26-29, Paul elevated slaves to a status equal to other members of the Body of Christ – a gesture unheard of at the time. In the book of Philemon, Paul sent a runaway slave home, to be received as a brother in Christ, and no longer as a slave. We’ll say more about the implications of this when we get to that book.

For now, Paul – consistent with his advice in 1 Corinthians 7.20-24 – instructs the slaves of the congregations in Ephesus to continue in their condition, and to regard it as a Kingdom calling, an opportunity to show the industry, excellence, and love that characterize relationships in the Kingdom of God. Slaves must look upon their masters as “worthy of all honor”. They must respect them, obey them, speak well of them, and treat them with the honor their status as masters deserves. Such behavior would not go unnoticed, and would bring honor to God, and discourage any slander being directed at His Name (v. 1).

Even Christians kept slaves in Paul’s day (v. 2), but they were to treat them fairly, as brethren in the Lord (Col. 4.1; Gal. 3.26-29). Christian slaves were to serve their masters effectively and with love. Thus the reality of the Kingdom would extend into the larger community, into various workplaces and among the lost people of the world.

We might wonder why Paul didn’t attack the institution of slavery outright. The reason is simple: He was called to the Gospel, and to proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God. If he had attacked the institution of slavery and succeeded, imagine the confusion and cruelty that would have resulted throughout the empire. By seeking and proclaiming the Kingdom, Paul inaugurated the building of a new foundation underneath human society, on which, in time, new structures and institutions could be safely and solidly built. Paul’s calling was to the Church as a Kingdom sign and outpost. Our calling is to our place in life and the people and situations we encounter there, to show the Kingdom by our righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit; and to proclaim the Kingdom as the Lord gives opportunity for us to do so. Thus the good order and good works we know in the Body of Christ flow out into all the niches and nooks of society as well.

In that respect, our calling is the same as was the calling of those Christian slaves in Ephesus.

Reflect.
1. Why are those who are in authority over us worthy of honor? What does it look like to show honor to those in authority?

2. Paul treated slaves as if they were called by God to that condition. Why, given his times, was he right in doing that? Does this mean we should accept forms of slavery in our day? Explain.

3. How we act to one another in the church, and how those actions carry over into every area of life, is central to the proclamation and advance of the Kingdom of God. Explain.

So it is obvious that Paul’s intention is not to abolish slavery as a social institution. Rather, he attacks slavery in its worst form, the slavery to evil, which pays no respect to any external freedom. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on First Corinthians 19.4

Thank You for my calling, Lord, and even for the rough patches and hard knocks I have to endure in it. Give me grace today so that I may advance Your Kingdom in my calling by…

Pray Psalm 140.1-5.
Thank God for His saving mercy and grace, and seek His help, protection, and guidance for the work before you this day.

Sing Psalm 140.1-5.
Psalm 140.1-5 (Old Rockingham: O Lord Most High, with All My Heart)
From evil, violent men, I pray, deliver me, preserve me, Lord!
Their hearts they bend to evil ways, and serpent’s venom is their word.

Guard me, O Lord, from wicked hands, from violent men preserve my life!
They sow my path with wicked plans, with nets and snares and cords of strife.

T. M. Moore

Men, we encourage you to follow Paul’s exhortation and to join our Men’s Prayer Movement. Watch this brief video (click here), then download the brochure that accompanies it. Get started praying more consistently, and enlisting other men to pray, by ordering two copies of If Men Will Pray, a fuller exposition of 1 Timothy 2. 1-8, by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).