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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Timothy 6:2

1All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 3If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, 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

• Thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• who haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• believersπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• as their mastersδεσπότηςdespotēs · masterG1203
• must not be disrespectfulκαταφρονέωkataphroneō · to despiseG2706
• to them becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• but must serveδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• them allμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
• partakeἀντιλαμβάνωantilambanomai · to helpG482
• of the benefitεὐεργεσίαeuergesia · good deedG2108
• and belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• Teachδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• preachπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 6:2

• Colossians 4:1Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
• Philemon 1:10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
• Genesis 16:4He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.
• Numbers 16:3They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why 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 one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
• 2 Peter 2:10and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
• Jude 1:8Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
• 1 Timothy 5:1Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers,
• Matthew 23:8But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
• Matthew 25:40The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
• Romans 8:29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
• Galatians 3:26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 3:11a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
• Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
• Colossians 1:2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are 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