1 Timothy 6:3 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Timothy 6:3

Comments

The immediate subject is still the issue that Paul has told Timothy to instruct the church about: the conduct of servants towards their masters, both unbelieving and believing. Paul had enough experience to know that apostolic teaching was not always received. There would be some who heard what he had to say to Timothy about the honour due to masters, and would dismiss it as shameful subservience, and playing into the hands of despots. They would argue this on the basis of truth and justice, of freedom, and of the need to resist oppression. But all that was, as Hendriksen calls it, a smokescreen, and the real analysis of their behaviour revealed something far less to their credit.They teach otherwise, and in doing so they submit not to wholesome words. They contradict the apostolic doctrine. Paul has got it wrong, they claim. But Paul insists on describing his teaching as wholesome words. The Christian teacher is to be fully convinced about what he teaches, so that he too does not hesitate to call it ‘wholesome words’. It is grounded in the inspired word of God, delivered through the apostles. This applies to apostolic doctrine and to such practical matters as how slaves should relate to their masters which he has just explained to Timothy. They teach otherwise, even though they know they are going against Paul. They have a low views of the authority and inspiration of the Apostle Paul in all his instruction to the churches. The wholesome words which he has just given to Timothy are completely aligned with ‘the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ In general terms Christ taught the submission of the believer to the institutions of this world. Men are to pay taxes to Cesar, as well as rendering their hearts to God. That principle implies also the recognition of all lesser rightful authorities which are over us in this life.This is also ‘doctrine which is according to godliness.’ Following carefully the apostle’s teaching in the matter of slavery will cause us to make progress in sanctification. Self will be mortified, and we will learn to show reasonable behaviour even when others are not being reasonable to us. That is a strong testimony.

Application

There is also a different form of the error which is pointed out here. There are those who do not actually go and teach something contrary, but who chafe under teaching like this, and only grudgingly comply with it. They do not teach otherwise in an open way, but still they do not consent to wholesome words. They are looking for an escape route which avoids having to comply fully with Paul’s teaching. The word ‘consent’ is the Greek for approach near. It implies agreement by drawing near to a thing. But it may be that we shy away from teaching like this. We push this teaching away from us because it runs contrary to our natural inclinations. We may not contradict apostolic teaching; we just shy away from it. ‘No, I'm going to return good for evil. I am going to argue with my employer. I'm not going to review my conduct in these things. I think this is wholly unreasonable. I'm just not going to put it into effect.’ Now that is a reaction that might take place from some believers behaving badly in employment and so on and just not prepared to put things right and face up to them.

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1 Timothy 6:3 Commentary and Bible Study

Explain meaning of 1 Timothy 6:3