1 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. 2 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. 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:1-5 KJV)
Honor Masters
The apostle had spoken earlier of church relations and now addresses family relations, beginning with the duty of servants. Servants are said to be under the yoke, which signifies both subjection and labor—they are yoked to work, not to be idle. If Christianity finds servants under the yoke, it keeps them there, for the gospel does not cancel obligations established by nature or mutual agreement. Servants must respect their masters and count them worthy of all honor because they are their masters—showing them respect, obedience, and compliance as expected. They are to do this so that the name of God and His doctrine will not be blasphemed (1 Timothy 6:1).
If servants who profess Christianity become insolent or disobedient, it would cause unbelievers to speak evil of the gospel, as if it made people worse than before they received it. Therefore, those who profess faith must live honorably so that others do not use their misconduct as a reason to speak ill of God’s name (Romans 2:24). Suppose both master and servant are believers—does that excuse the servant from his duties since in Christ there is neither bond nor free (Galatians 3:28)? No, for Jesus Christ did not come to dissolve civil relations but to strengthen them. Those who have believing masters must not despise them because they are brothers in Christ. This brotherhood refers only to spiritual privileges, not to outward rank or authority.
Rather, servants should serve their masters faithfully because they are believers and beloved. They should consider themselves more obligated to serve well since faith and love compel Christians to do good to one another (Galatians 6:10). It is an encouragement to perform our duties well when we know that those we serve are faithful and beloved, partakers of the blessings of Christianity. Believing masters and servants are indeed brothers and partakers of the same benefit, for in Christ Jesus all are one (Galatians 3:28). Timothy was commanded to teach and exhort these truths, for ministers must preach not only general Christian duties but also the duties of specific relationships (1 Timothy 6:2).
Paul then warns Timothy to beware of those who corrupt the doctrine of Christ and turn it into strife and controversy. “If anyone teaches otherwise, and does not consent to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3-4). The doctrine of Christ is a doctrine that leads to godliness. Those who reject it are proud, ignorant, and cause much harm in the church. Often those who know the least are the most arrogant, for they do not know themselves.
Such people dote about questions and disputes over words, which destroy the life and power of true religion. These quarrels give rise to envy, strife, malicious talk, and evil suspicions. When men are not satisfied with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine that promotes godliness, but instead invent their own ideas and insist on them, they bring confusion and division into the church. This happens when they use the words that human wisdom teaches rather than those taught by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13). From such controversies come the perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means to financial gain (1 Timothy 6:5).
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ are sound and wholesome, suited to heal both the wounds of the church and the troubled conscience. Christ has “the tongue of the learned” to speak “a word in season to the weary” (Isaiah 50:4). His words are the best safeguard against division in the church, for all who profess faith in Him must acknowledge His authority. The church has never prospered when human words have been given equal or greater authority than His.
Whoever teaches contrary to Christ’s words is proud and ignorant, for pride and ignorance often go hand in hand. Paul emphasizes that those who reject the sound words of Christ and the doctrine that leads to godliness are empty in knowledge. When people abandon the wholesome words of Christ, they inevitably fall into endless disputes and quarrels about words, producing envy, suspicion, and hostility among believers.
Those who engage in such perverse disputings reveal corrupt minds and a lack of truth, especially when they treat religion as a way to make money. This attitude is the opposite of the apostle’s view, for he considered true godliness to be great gain when combined with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). Faithful ministers and sincere Christians will therefore withdraw themselves from such people, as Scripture commands: “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:17).