1 Timothy 6:1

1 Timothy 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
• New International Version (NIV)All 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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

Context of 1 Timothy 6:1

All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2If 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. 3Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

1 Timothy 6:1 word by word

Ὅσοι εἰσὶν ὑπὸ ζυγὸν δοῦλοι, τοὺς ἰδίους δεσπότας πάσης τιμῆς ἀξίους ἡγείσθωσαν, ἵνα μὴ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἡ διδασκαλία βλασφημῆται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Letἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• as manyὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• underὑπόhupo · by/under: underG5259
• the yokeζυγόςzugos · yoke/scalesG2218
• their ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• mastersδεσπότηςdespotēs · masterG1203
• worthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
• of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• the nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• doctrineδιδασκαλίαdidaskalia · teachingG1319
• beβλασφημέωblasphēmeō · to blasphemeG987
• notμήmē · notG3361

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 6:1

• Deuteronomy 28:48you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you.
• Isaiah 47:6For I was angry with my chosen people and punished them by letting them fall into your hands. But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy. You oppressed even the elderly.
• Isaiah 58:6“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
• Matthew 11:9Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
• Acts 15:10So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
• 1 Corinthians 7:21Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.
• Galatians 5:1So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
• Genesis 16:9The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.”
• Genesis 24:2One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.
• 2 Kings 5:2At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.
• Malachi 1:6The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’
• Acts 10:7As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.
• Ephesians 6:5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.
• Colossians 3:22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
• 1 Peter 2:17Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Let as many servants as are under the yoke - The word here means slaves converted to the Christian faith; and the , or yoke, is the state of slavery; and by , masters, despots, we are to understand the heathen masters of those Christianized slaves. Even these, in such circumstances, and under such domination, are commanded to treat their masters with all honor and respect, that the name of God, by which they were called, and the doctrine of God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Let as many servants - On the word here rendered “servants” - ͂ douloi- see the notes on Ephesians 6:5. The word is that which was commonly applied to a slave, but it is so extensive in its signification as to be applicable to any species of servitude, whether voluntary or involuntary. If slavery existed in Ephesus at the time when this Epistle was written, it would be applicable to slaves; if any other kind of servitude existed, the word would be equally…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duty of Christians towards believing, as well as other masters. (1-5) The advantage of godliness with contentment. (6-10) A solemn charge to Timothy to be faithful. (11-16) The apostle repeats his warning to the rich, and closes with a blessing. (17-21) Verses 1-5 Christians were not to suppose that religious knowledge, or Christian privileges, gave them any right to despise heathen masters, or to disobey lawful commands, or to expose their faults to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Paul recommends that those who are slaves should treat both non-Christian and Christian masters with respect. This practice will honor God's name and give a good reputation to Christian teaching (see study note on 5:1–6:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-211Ti 6:1-21. Exhortations as to Distinctions of Civil Rank; the Duty of Slaves, in Opposition to the False Teachings of Gain-seekers; Timothy's Pursuit Is to Be Godliness, Which Is an Everlasting Possession: Solemn Adjuration to Do So against Christ's Coming; Charge to Be Given to the Rich. Concluding Exhortation. 1. servants--to be taken as predicated thus, "Let as many as are under the yoke (as) slaves" (Tit 2:9). The exhortation is natural as there was…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 6:1

• God
• Influence
• Minister, Christian
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Babbling
• Confession
• Consent
• Content
• Contentment
• Covet
• Foolish
• Pierce

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