1 Timothy 6:2

1 Timothy 6:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.

Context of 1 Timothy 6:2

1Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things. 3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,

1 Timothy 6:2 word by word

οἱ δὲ πιστοὺς ἔχοντες δεσπότας μὴ καταφρονείτωσαν, ὅτι ἀδελφοί εἰσιν· ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον δουλευέτωσαν, ὅτι πιστοί εἰσιν καὶ ἀγαπητοὶ οἱ τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἀντιλαμβανόμενοι.¶ Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• they that haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• believingπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• mastersδεσπότηςdespotēs · masterG1203
• let themκαταφρονέωkataphroneō · to despiseG2706
• notμήmē · notG3361
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• doδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• partakersἀντιλαμβάνωantilambanomai · to helpG482
• of the benefitεὐεργεσίαeuergesia · good deedG2108
• These thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• teachδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• exhortπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 6:2

• Colossians 4:1Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
• Philemon 1:10I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
• Genesis 16:4And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.
• Numbers 16:3They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"
• Matthew 6:24"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
• 2 Peter 2:10and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,
• Jude 1:8Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
• 1 Timothy 5:1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
• Matthew 23:8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
• Matthew 25:40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
• Romans 8:29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
• Galatians 3:26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
• Colossians 3:11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
• Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
• Colossians 1:2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 6:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2And 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And they that have believing masters - Masters who are Christians. It is clear from this, that Paul supposed that, at that time, and under those circumstances, a man might become a Christian who had slaves under him. How long he might continue to hold his fellow-men in bondage, and yet be a Christian, is, however, quite a different question. It is quite clear, from the New Testament, as well as from facts now, that God may convert people when pursuing any…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Proper behavior in God's spiritual household involves everyone, including: the old and young (5:1–2), widows (5:3–16), old people (5:17–25), and slaves (6:1–2a). Showing respect within the household goes beyond social boundaries.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. And--rather, "But." The opposition is between those Christian slaves under the yoke of heathen, and those that have believing masters (he does not use the phrase "under the yoke" in the latter case, for service under believers is not a yoke). Connect the following words thus, "Let them (the slaves) not, because they (the masters) are brethren (and so equals, masters and slaves alike being Christians), despise them (the masters)." but rather, &c.--"but…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 6:2

• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Babbling
• Confession
• Consent
• Content
• Contentment
• Covet
• Faithful
• Foolish
• Pierce
• Root

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings