"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"
Chapter Six
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To note the warnings about being obsessed with disputes and
arguments over words, wranglings of men, etc.
2) To appreciate the counsel given to those who desire to be rich, and
to those who are rich
3) To consider what the man of God is expected to flee and to pursue
SUMMARY
This final chapter begins with instructions concerning servants and
their duties toward their masters, especially toward those masters who
believe (1-2). A description then follows of those who might teach
otherwise and not consent to the wholesome words of our Lord and His
doctrine which is according to godliness (3-5). Mentioning the value
of godliness when accompanied by contentment, Pauls warns of the need
to be content with food and clothing, and the danger facing those who
desire to be rich (6-10).
Timothy is then charged to flee such things and to pursue things
becoming a man of God. He is encouraged to fight the good fight of
faith, and to lay hold on eternal life. He is then solemnly urged by
Paul to keep the commandment without spot and blameless until our
Lord's appearing, whom Paul describes in the most amazing terms
(11-16).
The epistle ends with instructions for Christians who are rich in this
world, and with an impassioned plea for Timothy to guard what was
committed to his trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings over false
doctrine which has led others away from the faith (17-21).
OUTLINE
I. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SERVANTS (1-2)
A. HOW THEY SHOULD REGARD THEIR MASTERS (1)
1. As worthy of all honor (1a)
2. So that God and His doctrine might not be blasphemed (1b)
B. HOW THEY SHOULD REGARD BELIEVING MASTERS (2)
1. Not to be despised because they are brethren (2a)
2. But to serve them, remembering that those who are benefited
are believers and beloved (2b)
II. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING TEACHERS MOTIVATED BY GREED (3-10)
A. SUCH TEACHERS DESCRIBED (3-5)
1. Anyone who does not consent to the wholesome words of our
Lord, and to the doctrine according to godliness (3)
2. He is proud, knowing nothing (4a)
3. He is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words (4b)
a. From which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions
(4c)
b. From which come useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds
and destitute of the truth (5a)
4. Who supposes that godliness is a means of gain (5b)
B. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTENTMENT (6-8)
1. Godliness with contentment is great gain (6)
a. For we brought nothing into this world (7a)
b. And it is certain we can carry nothing out (7b)
2. Thus we should be content with food and clothing (8)
C. THE DANGERS FACING THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH (9-10)
1. Those who desire to be rich fall...
a. Into temptation and a snare (9a)
b. Into many foolish and harmful lusts (9b)
...which drown men in destruction and perdition (9c)
2. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (10a)
a. For which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness (10b)
b. And have pierced themselves with many sorrows (10c)
III. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE MAN OF GOD HIMSELF (11-16)
A. GENERAL EXHORTATIONS (11-12)
1. Flee the things described before, such as the desire to be
rich (11a)
2. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience,
gentleness (11b)
3. Fight the good fight of faith (12a)
4. Lay hold on eternal life (12b)
a. To which you were called (12c)
b. To which you have confessed the good confession in the
presence of many (12d)
B. A SOLEMN CHARGE (13-16)
1. Urged by Paul in the sight of...
a. God, who gives life to all things (13a)
b. Jesus Christ, who witnessed the good confession before
Pontius Pilate (13b)
2. To keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the
Lord's appearing (14)
a. Which He will manifest in His own time (15a)
b. Who is then described as:
1) The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and
Lord of lords (15b)
2) He who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable
light, whom no man has seen or can see (16a)
c. To whom be honor and everlasting power (16b)
IV. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE RICH (17-19)
A. WHAT TO COMMAND THEM (17)
1. Not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches (17a)
2. But to trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things
to enjoy (17b)
B. WHAT TO ENCOURAGE THEM (18-19)
1. To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing
to share (18)
2. Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to
come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (19)
V. CONCLUDING CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (20-21)
A. A FERVENT PLEA TO TIMOTHY (20-21a)
1. To guard what was committed to his trust (20a)
2. To avoid the profane and vain babblings and contradictions of
what is falsely called knowledge (20b)
3. For by professing such, some have strayed concerning the faith
(21a)
B. A FINAL BENEDICTION: "GRACE BE WITH YOU. AMEN" (21b)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Instructions concerning servants (1-2)
- Instructions concerning teachers motivated by greed (3-10)
- Instructions concerning the man of God himself (11-16)
- Instructions concerning the rich (17-19)
- Concluding charge to Timothy (20-21)
2) How were servants to consider their masters? Why? (1)
- As worthy of all honor
- That the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed
3) What were the servants who had believing masters cautioned against
doing? (2)
- Despising them because they are brethren
4) How is one described who does not consent to the words of our Lord,
and to the doctrine which is according to godliness? (3-4)
- Proud, knowing nothing, obsessed with disputes and arguments over
words
5) What is of great gain? (6)
- Godliness with contentment
6) With what should we be content? (8)
- Having food and clothing
7) What happens to those who desire to be rich? (9)
- They fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
harmful lusts
8) What is a root of all kinds of evil? (10)
- The love of money
9) What have some done in their greediness? (10)
- Strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows
10) What is the man of God to pursue? (11)
- Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness
11) What is the man of God to fight, and to lay hold of? (12)
- He is to fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal
life
12) What did Paul urge Timothy to do? (13-14)
- To keep the commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord's
appearing
13) How does Paul describe our Lord Jesus Christ? (15-16)
- The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of
lords
- Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light
14) What was Timothy to command the rich? (17-19)
- Not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the
living God
- To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to
share
- To store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life
15) What was Timothy to avoid? Why? (20-21)
- Profane and vain babblings and contradictions of what is falsely
called knowledge
- By professing such things, some have strayed concerning the faith
16) What was Paul's final benediction to Timothy in this letter? (21)
- Grace be with you
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