1 Timothy 6 2

1 Timothy 6:2 kjv

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

1 Timothy 6:2 nkjv

And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

1 Timothy 6:2 niv

Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.

1 Timothy 6:2 esv

Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. False Teachers and True Contentment Teach and urge these things.

1 Timothy 6:2 nlt

If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. False Teaching and True Riches Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.

1 Timothy 6 verses

1 Timothy 6 2 meaning

This verse instructs believing servants who serve believing masters not to despise or treat their masters with contempt, merely because they are now "brothers" in Christ. Instead, these servants are called to serve their masters with even greater diligence and dedication. The reason given is that the masters, who are benefiting from their service, are also fellow believers and beloved by God, implying that this shared faith should foster even greater mutual respect and committed service. Furthermore, Timothy is urged to teach and exhort these principles within the church.

1 Timothy 6 2 Context

1 Timothy 6:2 falls within a section where Paul provides Timothy with practical instructions regarding Christian living, church order, and particularly the conduct of different groups within the believing community. The immediate context of 1 Timothy 6:1 addresses believing servants (bondservants or slaves) who have unbelieving masters, instructing them to serve well so that God’s name and doctrine are not blasphemed. Verse 2 extends this instruction to the more complex, and potentially counter-intuitive, situation where both servant and master are believers.

Historically, slavery was a widespread and accepted institution in the Roman Empire, differing significantly from modern concepts, often including individuals from various social and ethnic backgrounds. Upon conversion, both masters and slaves entered into a new spiritual reality of brotherhood in Christ, leading to potential tensions regarding established social hierarchies. Paul’s instruction here, and in other "household codes" (Eph 5:21–6:9, Col 3:18–4:1), aimed not to dismantle existing social structures (which would have caused widespread social unrest and brought discredit upon the early church), but to radically transform the nature of relationships within those structures through Christian love, humility, and submission to the Lordship of Christ.

1 Timothy 6 2 Word analysis

• Those who have believing masters (Οἱ δὲ ἔχοντες πιστοὺς δεσπότας, Hoi de echontes pistous despotas):
  • ἔχοντες (echontes): "having," "possessing." Refers to servants (from the previous verse's context, δούλοι or "bondservants").
  • πιστοὺς (pistous): "faithful," "believing." This specifies the master's status as a Christian. This creates a unique dynamic, as they are now spiritual "brothers."
  • δεσπότας (despotas): "masters," "lords," "owners." This term inherently indicates a position of authority and control, particularly common for slave-owners.
  Significance: This phrase highlights a specific situation where spiritual equality might be misconstrued to negate social roles. It's the central challenge the verse addresses.
• should not show them disrespect (μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν, mē kataphroneitōsan):
  • μὴ (mē): "not," an imperative negative particle.
  • καταφρονείτωσαν (kataphroneitōsan): "despise," "treat with contempt," "look down upon," "think lightly of." It signifies an attitude of superiority or disregard.
  Significance: The potential for disrespect arose from the newfound spiritual equality ("brothers"). Slaves might feel that their spiritual status granted them license to disregard their masters' authority, viewing them no longer as masters but merely as equal brethren. This instruction directly counters such an attitude.
• on the ground that they are brothers (ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσιν, hoti adelphoi eisin):
  • ὅτι (hoti): "because," "that."
  • ἀδελφοί (adelphoi): "brothers." In the New Testament, this term commonly denotes fellow believers in the Christian community, highlighting their shared spiritual family.
  Significance: This specifies the very reason some servants might contemplate disrespect—their spiritual kinship. Paul confronts this logical fallacy, turning it into a reason for greater service.
• but rather serve them all the more (ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν, alla mallon douleuétōsan):
  • ἀλλὰ (alla): "but," "rather." Strong contrast.
  • μᾶλλον (mallon): "more," "rather," "to a greater degree." This intensifies the command to serve.
  • δουλευέτωσαν (douleuétōsan): "let them serve," "they should be a slave to." From douleúō, which means to be a slave or serve as a slave. It emphasizes humble and diligent service, not a contractual arrangement.
  Significance: This is a radical reorientation. Christian brotherhood should elevate the standard of service, not diminish it. It promotes excellence motivated by faith.
• because those who benefit from their service are believers and beloved (ὅτι πιστοί εἰσιν καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι, hoti pistoi eisin kai agapētoi hoi tēs euergesias antilambanomenoi):
  • πιστοί (pistoi): "faithful," "believing." Reiteration of the masters' Christian status.
  • ἀγαπητοὶ (agapētoi): "beloved." A term of endearment in Christian context, signifying someone dearly loved by God and by other believers.
  • εὐεργεσίας (euergesias): "benefaction," "good deed," "benefit." This is the service or good work being performed by the slave.
  • ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι (antilambanomenoi): "those who receive," "those who participate in," "those who are helped by."
  Significance: This phrase provides the ultimate rationale for enhanced service. The master isn't just an employer, but a fellow beloved member of God's family. Serving a beloved believer contributes to the overall welfare and testimony of the Body of Christ. The benefit is reciprocal in the spiritual realm.
• Teach and urge these things (Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει, Tauta didaske kai parakalei):
  • Ταῦτα (Tauta): "These things." Refers to all the preceding instructions in vv.1-2.
  • δίδασκε (didaske): "teach." An imperative for doctrinal instruction.
  • παρακάλει (parakalei): "urge," "exhort," "comfort." Implies not just imparting knowledge but applying it with persuasion and encouragement.
  Significance: This final phrase transitions from instruction for believers to instruction for Timothy, emphasizing his responsibility to faithfully transmit and enforce these principles within the church, ensuring sound doctrine translates into godly practice.

1 Timothy 6 2 Bonus section

The instructions regarding servants and masters (both 1 Tim 6:1 and 6:2) serve a dual purpose in the early church: maintaining the good reputation of the gospel (avoiding accusations of promoting social unrest) and demonstrating the transforming power of Christ within individuals regardless of their social status. While the external social structures remained (temporarily), the internal spiritual reality redefined relationships. This approach allowed the church to grow without immediately inciting hostility from the Roman authorities, while subtly planting seeds for ethical treatment that would, over centuries, contribute to the re-evaluation and eventual condemnation of oppressive systems. The emphasis is on faithful witness in one's current circumstances, demonstrating that spiritual freedom does not negate moral duties or responsibilities within societal roles.

1 Timothy 6 2 Commentary

This verse offers crucial insight into the practical application of Christian faith within existing social structures, specifically addressing the sensitive relationship between believing servants and believing masters. Paul confronts a natural human inclination to misuse newfound spiritual equality to justify social insubordination. He redirects this by emphasizing that the "brotherhood" in Christ should not diminish earthly service but elevate it. The spiritual bond means that serving a believing master is serving someone "beloved" by God, thus contributing to the good of the entire Christian family and the glory of God. It's a call to extraordinary dedication, rooted in the dignity of all labor performed "as for the Lord," even in challenging circumstances. Paul is not endorsing slavery, but transforming its dynamics by infusing them with the values of love, honor, and selfless service, effectively undermining the system's inherent dehumanization from within. Timothy is tasked with actively teaching and persuading believers to embrace this counter-cultural ethical standard.