1 Timothy 6:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1-5

I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations. Servants are here said to be under the yoke, which denotes both subjection and labour; they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it continues them under it; for the gospel does not cancel the obligations any lie under either by the law of nature or by mutual consent. They must respect their masters, count them worthy of all honour... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 6:1-2

6:1-2 Let all those who are slaves under the yoke hold their own masters to be worthy of all respect, in order that no one may have an opportunity to speak evil of the name of God and the Christian teaching. If they have masters who are believers, let them not try to take advantage of them because they are brothers, but rather let them render even better service, because those who lay claim to that service are believers and beloved. Beneath the surface of this passage there are certain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1

Let as many servants as are under the yoke ,.... Not under the yoke of the law of God, or under the yoke of Christ; though the servants here spoken of were under both; but "under the yoke of government", as the Arabic version renders it; that is, under the yoke of men, in a state of servitude, under the government of masters, and in their service; being either apprentices to them, or bought with their money, or hired by them: count their own masters worthy of all honour ; and give it to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:2

And they that have believing masters ,.... That believe in one God, in opposition to the Gentiles, that held many gods, and in Jesus Christ, in distinction from the Jews; who believed in him with the heart, and professed him with their mouths, and held the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. What is said before, is said to servants that had unbelieving masters; who would be ready to blaspheme, should they act amiss. Servants were under a snare both ways, through the insinuations of false... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:1

Let as many servants as are under the yoke - The word δουλοι here means slaves converted to the Christian faith; and the ζυγον , or yoke, is the state of slavery; and by δεσποται , masters, despots, we are to understand the heathen masters of those Christianized slaves. Even these, in such circumstances, and under such domination, are commanded to treat their masters with all honor and respect, that the name of God, by which they were called, and the doctrine of God, Christianity,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:2

And they that have believing masters - Who have been lately converted as well as themselves. Let them not despise them - Supposing themselves to be their equals, because they are their brethren in Christ; and grounding their opinion on this, that in him there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; for, although all are equal as to their spiritual privileges and state, yet there still continues in the order of God's providence a great disparity of their station: the master must ever... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:1

Verse 1 It appears that, at the beginning of the gospel, slaves cheered their hearts, as if the signal had been given for their emancipation; for Paul labors hard, in all his writings, to repress that desire; and indeed the condition of slavery was so hard that we need not wonder that it was exceedingly hateful. Now, it is customary to seize, for the advantage of the flesh, everything that has the slightest appearance of being in our favor. Thus when they were told that we are all brethren,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 6:2

Verse 2 2Who have believing masters The name of brother may be thought to constitute equality, and consequently to take away dominion. Paul argues, on the contrary, that slaves ought the more willingly to subject themselves to believing masters, because they acknowledge them to be children of God, and are bound to them by brotherly love, and are partakers of the same grace. (116) It is no small honor, that God has made them equal to earthly lords, in that which is of the highest importance; for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1

Are servants for servants as are , A.V.; the doctrine for his doctrine , A.V. Servants ; literally, slaves . That slaves formed a considerable portion of the first Christian Churches may be inferred from the frequency with which their duties are pressed upon them (see 1 Corinthians 7:21-22 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 ; Ephesians 6:5-8 ; Colossians 3:11 , Colossians 3:22 ; 1 Peter 2:18 ( οἱ οἰκέται ); see also 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ). It must have been an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1

The apostle next proceeds to deal with the distinctions of civil duty, and takes up the case of a very numerous But miserable class which appears to have been largely attracted to the gospel in primitive times. I. THE HONOR DUE TO PAGAN MASTERS . "Whoever are under the yoke as bondservants, let them reckon their own masters worthy of all honor." 1. The condition of the slaves was one of much hardship . There was practically no limit to the power of the masters over the... read more

Group of Brands