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.
• 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.
• 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

1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 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. 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, 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, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
• Philemon 1:10that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
• Genesis 16:4He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
• Numbers 16:3They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”
• Matthew 6:24“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
• 2 Peter 2:10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
• Jude 1:8In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
• 1 Timothy 5:1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
• Matthew 23:8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
• Matthew 25:40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
• Romans 8:29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• Galatians 3:26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
• Colossians 3:11Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
• Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
• Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
• Colossians 1:2To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you 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