1 Timothy 6 1

1 Timothy 6:1 kjv

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

1 Timothy 6:1 nkjv

Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

1 Timothy 6:1 niv

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.

1 Timothy 6:1 esv

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

1 Timothy 6:1 nlt

All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 1 Meaning

First Timothy 6:1 instructs Christian bondservants to respect and honor their unbelieving masters. The primary motivation for this behavior is to ensure that the character and reputation of God, along with the core teachings of Christianity, are not brought into disrepute or slandered by the world due to the actions of believers. This directive aims to preserve the integrity of the gospel witness in a complex societal structure.

1 Timothy 6 1 Context

First Timothy is a pastoral epistle written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, his protégé and a leader in the church at Ephesus. The letter provides instructions on church organization, leadership qualifications, handling false teachings, and various aspects of Christian living. Chapter 6 specifically addresses matters of wealth, piety, contentment, and the behavior of different groups within the Christian community, including those who are wealthy and those in positions of servitude.

In the Greco-Roman world, servitude or "slavery" (though different from modern understanding, it involved significant loss of freedom and personal rights) was a widespread social reality, integral to the economic and household structures of the time. Many early Christians, including bondservants, found faith in Christ. Within this social context, there was a potential for misunderstanding the concept of Christian freedom. Some bondservants, upon recognizing their equality in Christ (Gal 3:28) and newfound dignity, might have been tempted to disregard or disrespect their earthly masters, especially if those masters were unbelievers. Such actions could easily be misconstrued by the broader society as Christianity promoting social unrest, undermining existing order, or being generally disruptive, thereby bringing the name of God and the Christian message into ill repute. Paul's instruction here is designed to avert such blasphemy and to present the gospel as a transformative, not a subversive, force in society.

1 Timothy 6 1 Word analysis

• Let as many servants (δοῦλοι - douloi): This refers specifically to bondservants or slaves, not merely hired employees. In the Roman context, this was a legally owned individual who belonged to a master. Paul's direct address highlights that Christianity transcends social status, calling all to obedience regardless of their earthly position. The instruction is not conditional on the number but applies to "as many as" are in this position, indicating its wide applicability.

• as are under the yoke (ὑπὸ ζυγόν - hypo zygon): "Yoke" is a metaphor commonly used in antiquity to denote bondage, labor, or subjection (cf. Matt 11:29-30, Acts 15:10). Here, it explicitly refers to their state of servitude. It emphasizes the reality of their earthly condition, despite their spiritual freedom in Christ.

• count their own masters (δεσπότας - despotas) worthy: "Count" (ἡγείσθωσαν - hēgeisthōsan) means to consider, deem, or esteem. It's an internal judgment that leads to outward action. "Masters" (δεσπότας - despotas) denotes absolute owners or lords, implying a high level of authority. This term is stronger than κύριος (kyrios), underscoring the absolute control masters had. The emphasis is on their own masters, signifying personal responsibility in their specific situation.

• of all honour (πάσης τιμῆς - pasēs timēs): This means full, complete, or every kind of honor. It encompasses respect, reverence, and obedience due to their position, not necessarily due to their character (1 Pet 2:18 extends this to harsh masters). This honor is a deliberate act, an acknowledgment of their God-ordained authority structure in this sphere, irrespective of whether the master is good or bad.

• that the name of God (τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ - to onoma tou Theou): "Name of God" signifies God's character, reputation, authority, and divine being. To blaspheme God's name means to bring contempt, dishonor, or reproach upon Him. The motivation for the bondservant's conduct is external to themselves, focused on the glory and good standing of God in the eyes of unbelievers.

• and his doctrine (καὶ ἡ διδαχή - kai hē didachē): This refers to Christian teaching, the gospel message, the body of Christian truth. The conduct of believers directly impacts how the world perceives and judges the Christian faith. Dishonorable actions could lead to the slander of the very doctrine they profess.

• be not blasphemed (βλασφημῆται - blasphemētai): "Blasphemed" carries the strong connotation of speaking evil of, slandering, or reviling. It implies disgrace and contempt being brought upon God and His teaching. The purpose of their honorable conduct is to prevent this serious outcome.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Let as many servants as are under the yoke": This phrase acknowledges the harsh reality of social status while asserting the gospel's call to transform character within that status. It applies to Christian bondservants in an un-Christian institution.
  • "count their own masters worthy of all honour": This highlights an internal, attitudinal response leading to external, respectful behavior. It emphasizes the personal choice to give full honor regardless of circumstances or the master's own deserving nature.
  • "that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed": This reveals the ultimate purpose and highest motivation for such submission: the protection and honor of God's reputation and the integrity of the Christian message to a watching world. The witness of believers is paramount.

1 Timothy 6 1 Bonus section

The instruction in 1 Timothy 6:1 (and parallel passages) implicitly lays groundwork for the eventual, gradual demise of institutions like slavery within Christianized societies. While Paul does not directly advocate for abolition, his teachings—emphasizing equality in Christ (Gal 3:28), mutual love, dignity of work done as for the Lord (Col 3:23-24), and justice for all—planted seeds that, over centuries, contradicted the very spirit of absolute human ownership. The honor commanded to be given to masters also implicitly suggests that such relationships should be mutually beneficial and conducted with integrity, moving towards the eventual valuing of human dignity that is antithetical to exploitation. Thus, while seemingly addressing a limited social situation, this verse and others like it, provided an ethical foundation that eventually led to a re-evaluation of human relations within societies impacted by Christian thought.

1 Timothy 6 1 Commentary

1 Timothy 6:1 provides crucial instruction regarding the conduct of Christian bondservants, particularly when serving unbelieving masters. Paul's directive is rooted not in an endorsement of slavery as an institution, but in the pressing need to safeguard the integrity and reputation of God and the gospel. In a society where servitude was pervasive, the actions of Christians could greatly influence perceptions of their faith.

The command to "count their own masters worthy of all honour" requires a profound attitude of respect and diligence. This honor is not contingent on the master's character or deservingness but on the bondservant's commitment to Christ. Disrespect or rebellion, fueled by a misunderstanding of Christian freedom, could lead unbelievers to condemn Christianity as a socially disruptive or anarchic movement. This would cause the "name of God" (His character and reputation) and "His doctrine" (the saving truth of the gospel) to be slandered.

The underlying principle is that Christian conduct should always reflect positively on God and the truth He represents. Our actions, even in the mundane or challenging circumstances of life, serve as a testament to the transformative power of the gospel. While Christ brought spiritual freedom, Paul urged practical submission within societal structures, allowing the Spirit's transformation to be evident in behavior rather than disrupting social order in a way that would hinder the spread of the gospel.

In contemporary application, this verse guides our conduct in relationships with earthly authorities and employers. As believers, our professionalism, integrity, and respectful demeanor in the workplace, even under difficult leadership, should reflect well on the faith we profess, preventing reproach upon Christ's name. For example, a Christian employee, though facing an unreasonable manager, performs duties diligently and respectfully, not for human praise, but to honor God and avoid any reason for the manager to speak ill of Christianity.