1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6:1

As some judaizing teachers, to the discredit of religion and the violation of natural rights, encourage slaves or other servants, when converted, to renounce their servitude, I earnestly admonish you on all proper occasions to instruct and urge servants, however enslaved, to honour, reverence, and obey, their Heathen masters; that so the honour of God and credit of the gospel may not be reproachfully stained as if it discharged men from their just obligations, and the natural or civil duties of their station

1 Timothy 6:2

And, if any Christian servants are so happy as to have masters of their own religion, let them prize it as a great privilege, and honour and obey them the more cheerfully, affectionately, and diligently, because they are faithful believers, beloved of God, and partakers of all the blessings of redemption through the blood of his Son

1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach what is contrary to these directions, and does not, in heart, speech, and behaviour, embrace and practice the pure and salutary doctrines of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning his person and offices, which is formed, designed, and blessed, for promoting practical religion in all the branches of piety towards God and relative duties towards men from regard to his authority; 4, 5. Notwithstanding all his pretences, profession, or station in the church, he is but a haughty, self-conceited, creature, puffed up by the vanity of his own mind, who knows nothing aright of the truth of the gospel, or of his own duty to God or to men; but, like a brain-sick person, is muddy fond of impertinent, useless, and entangling questions, and empty disputes, about words rather than matter; and which are fit for nothing but to kindle and inflame invidious thoughts and passions, angry debates, blasphemous and reproachful railings, injurious and ill-grounded jealousies, preposterously curious, vain, and froward, disputings,—proper only for persons of erroneous minds and vicious inclinations, who are utter strangers to Christ and the gospel, and to the reality of grace in their hearts, and reckon religion only so far valuable as it is subservient to their carnal views. Have nothing to do with such persons; abhor their principles and practices; and, if they continue obstinate therein, let them be excluded from the church

1 Timothy 6:6

But, whatever such carnal men think,—true practical godliness, in which all suitable graces are exercised, in worshipping and serving God through Jesus Christ, under the influence of his Spirit, according to the gospel, attended with an holy and gracious contentment and satisfaction in the disposals of Providence towards us in this life, is the most pleasant, satisfying, and profitable, course that can be conceived, and incomparably preferable to an affluence of temporal enjoyments, which at best are empty, precarious, and perishing: 7. For, as we brought none of these earthly enjoyments with us into this world in our birth, but hold them by the mere bounty and sovereign disposal of God, so we must quickly leave them all behind us at death

1 Timothy 6:8

If then the kind providence of God supply us in this world with necessary food, raiment, and dwellings, we ought to be fully contented with our lot, and thankful for what we enjoy, as very good, nay best for us

1 Timothy 6:9

But they, whose hearts are set upon riches, and resolve to have them at any rate, as if they were their chief good, plunge themselves into manifold temptations to dishonesty and other wickedness, and into the deep defilement of many foolish and hurtful lusts and passions, which will effectually swallow them up in temporal and eternal destruction: 10. For an inordinate esteem of, and affection for, wealth is the pregnant source of all sinful, injurious, and miserable, principles and practices, in which, while some have indulged themselves, they have apostatized from their Christian profession and practice; and, instead of finding the satisfaction they 142 159* expected, have plunged themselves into the most painful agonies of mind and distress of body

1 Timothy 6:11

But do you, Timothy, whom God hath so richly endowed with the gifts and graces of his Spirit, and who have solemnly devoted yourself to his service, abhor and flee from these corrupt principles, inclinations, and practices, and, in the strength of grace, earnestly endeavour after the richest attainments of the knowledge and exercise of righteousness in all your behaviour towards men,—and of strict and evangelical piety in all your dealings with God,—of faith in Christ, and in God through him,—of that love which is the fruit of faith—of patience amidst wants, perplexities, and sufferings,—and of an humble and gentle temper towards all men

1 Timothy 6:12

In this manner, contend earnestly for the doctrines of faith; and in the exercise of faith, fight, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, against the devil, the world, and the flesh: press forward in faith and holiness, till you obtain the full possession of that eternal life to which you were effectually called by the gospel, and to the honour of which you have, in your ordination, preaching, conversation, and sufferings, borne the most public and solemn testimony

1 Timothy 6:13

And, as this matter is of infinite importance to the glory of God and the salvation of multitudes, I solemnly charge you, in the name, and before the face of that all-seeing and almighty God who quickens dead souls, and will quickly raise the dead to the last judgment,—and by the authority, and in the presence, of Jesus Christ, the great Messiah; at whose awful tribunal you must quickly give an account of your conduct; and who, when arraigned before Pontius Pilate the Roman governor, set you a glorious example of courage and stedfastness, in bearing a free and open testimony to the truth, when he knew it would cost him his life

1 Timothy 6:14

That you faithfully and diligently, and to the end of your life, perform your ministerial work, and sincerely and exactly follow the instructions which I have given you,—in the full expectation of the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge the world, and of the account we must give to him of our whole conduct: 15. Which appearance he will make in the most public view of angels and men in the appointed season thereof,—who in himself is the infinitely happy and all-sufficient God, the only supreme and almighty Ruler over, and source of, all authority to, all kings and lords on earth, being infinitely more glorious and excellent than any of them: 16. And who alone has an absolutely eternal life of glory and blessedness, originally, necessarily, unchangeably, and independently, in himself, and is infinitely pure and inconceivable in his nature, and manifests himself on his heavenly throne in inexpressible and unapproachable glories

1 Timothy 6:17

In view of the importance of your trust, and of that awful account which you and others are to give of your conduct, solemnly and faithfully charge those Christiaus, who have some share of worldly riches, to beware of being lifted up with pride, self-sufficiency, and contempt of others, or of trusting in earthly possessions, which are so precarious and fleeting; and teach them to put their whole confidence in the only living and true God, who, of his infinite mercy, freely bestows upon us all the blessings of time and eternity

1 Timothy 6:18

Charge them also that, instead of boarding up their riches, or lavishly spending them on themselves, they do all the good they can with them; and study to abound in better riches, to their own and others’ advantage, even in every good work which their affluence renders them capable of, cheerfully and liberally bestowing it in supplying the necessities of the poor, and promoting the cause of Christ

1 Timothy 6:19

Making Christ, and him crucified, the sole foundation of their hopes of eternal life, as a purchased possession, and proving and exercising their faith in works of 13 11