1 Timothy 6:1-10 Conduct of Servants (6:1, 2) Warnings Against False Doctrine & False Teachers (6:3-5) Contentment (6:6-10)

 Paul expected Timothy to encounter slaves, thus the instruction on what to teach them.  So that God and the gospel will not be spoken against… Servants are to regard their masters as “worthy of all honor”  What if slave is a Christian and…  Master is evil: Does slave have right to be disrespectful, disobedient, disloyal, unreliable, unfaithful? ( 1 Pet. 2:18) Conduct of Servants (6:1, 2)

 What if slave and master are both Christians  Do not be disrespectful because they are brothers  Slave must serve “all the more”  A Christian slave or master should be the very best slave or master in the world. This applied to all slaves whether their master was heathen or Christian.  Christian masters also had a special obligation to their slaves, whether Christians or not (Eph. 6:5-9). Conduct of Servants (6:1, 2)

 The gospel changes lives…even in a life of slavery.  What freedom/slavery does the gospel teach?  Slave of sin (Jn 8:34)  Truth will make you free (Jn 8:32)  The gospel teaches how to conduct ourselves in whatever state we are (1 Cor 7:20-24) Conduct of Servants (6:1, 2)

 Paul revisits one of the main topics of the letter to Timothy  Those who advocate a different doctrine concerning the conduct of, not only slaves, but more broadly to anyone teaching anything contrary to the doctrine of our Lord.  Some teach out of ignorance and a lack of knowledge. Others, however, fall into this description. Warnings Against False Doctrine & False Teachers (6:3-5)

 Conceited  Morbid interest in controversy/disputes  Causing  Envy  Strife  Abusive Language  Evil Suspicions  Friction  Supposing godliness is a means of gain Warnings Against False Doctrine & False Teachers (6:3-5)

 There’s a false maxim which states that whatever prospers must be according to true religion and is evidence of God’s approval.  “Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words…” (2 Pet 2:2-3) Warnings Against False Doctrine & False Teachers (6:3-5)

 But, godliness IS a means of great gain…when accompanied by contentment.  We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out (Eccl 5:15)  Content with food and covering Contentment (6:6-10)

On the other hand,  Those who want to get rich fall into  Temptation  Snares  Harmful desires  Ruin and destruction  The love of money…  Some have wandered from the faith as a result... Contentment (6:6-10)