Day 196 – Wednesday, October 1, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Timothy 6

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Honor Masters

1 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. ² 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 6:1–2, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul again addressed the issue of bondservants and masters here in the letter to Timothy. Paul emphasized the need to honor their masters.
• While this may not relate to actual slavery, it could. And it could also relate to employment in the modern readers’ setting. I do not think Paul endorsed slavery, but does offer advice to those who find themselves serving others. Do not despise an employer, boss, supervisor. Instead, help them and make their job easier, knowing that you will receive pay, and perhaps a spiritual reward.

Error and Greed

³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, ⁴ he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, ⁵ useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

(1 Timothy 6:3–10, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul addressed those who would oppose his teachings as proud and unknowledgeable. They cause strife and argued endlessly. He warned Timothy to have no fellowship with them.
• Paul then made a statement that has been often quoted, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” He reminded Timothy that we bring nothing into the world with us, and we will take nothing out of this life of a physical nature. If we are provided the basic living necessities we should be content.
• Longing for riches brings weakness to temptation and lust. To love money produces all types of evil. Do not let greed draw you away from the faith.

The Good Confession

¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, ¹⁴ that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, ¹⁵ which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. 

(1 Timothy 6:11–16, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul told Timothy (man of God) to flee these temptations and chase after the things of God. He said to fight the good fight of faith in order to receive eternal life.
• He even went so far as to tell Timothy to keep the commandments without any failure. That is the goal, to live a life of holiness. Then, at the coming of the Lord, we will receive a reward from our great God and Savior.

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

(1 Timothy 6:17–19, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then tells Timothy to teach the rich not to be proud or to trust in riches, but to trust in God.
• He tells them to be rich in benevolence, ready to share the bounty with which God has blessed them. This will bank a great foundation for them in the life to come.

Guard the Faith

²⁰ O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—²¹ by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Grace be with you. Amen. 

(1 Timothy 6:20–21, NKJV)

• Finally, Paul exclaims that Timothy should guard what has been committed to him.
• Timothy—and we—should avoid the voices of unrighteousness and error, so that we will not stray from the faith. Do not let the voice of evil draw you away into a trap of death. Stand strong in your faith and be whole!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.