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1Timothy Chapter Six ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) Why should all who are under the yoke of slavery consider their masters worthy of full respect, and why are should those who have believing masters serve them better?
________________________________________________________________________________ In Paul's culture there was a great social and legal gulf separating masters and slaves. But as Christians, masters and slaves became spiritual equals, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). Paul did not speak against the institution of slavery, but he gave guidelines for Christian slaves and Christian masters. His counsel for the master/slave relationship can be applied to the employer/employee relationship today. Employees should work hard, showing respect for their employers. In turn, employers should be fair (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25). Our work should reflect our faithfulness to love for Christ. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Love of Money ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2) Who is conceited and understands nothing, what does this person have an unhealthy interest in, what have they been robbed of, and what do they think godliness is?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching, and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel into quarrels that caused strife in the church. A person's understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording it over others or for making money. Stay away from people who just want to argue. 3) What is great gain, what did Paul say we have brought into the world, and what did Paul say we cannot take out of the world?
________________________________________________________________________________ This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on him ("godliness," see Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives (see Philippians 4:11-13). 4) What does Paul say we will be content with, who falls into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, what do these temptations, traps, foolish and harmful desires, plunge men into, what did Paul say the love of money is, and what had some of the people eager for money done?
________________________________________________________________________________ Despite overwhelming evidence to the
contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people
craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin
and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us
some guidelines: (1) realize that one day riches will all be gone (6:7, 17); (2)
be content with what you have (6:8); (3) monitor what you are willing to do to
get more money (6:9, 10); (4) love people more than money (6:11); (5) love God's
work more than money (6:11); (6) freely share what you have with others (6:18).
(see Proverbs 30:7-9 for more on avoiding the love of money). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul's Charge to Timothy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5) What does Paul tell Timothy to pursue, what fight did Paul tell Timothy to fight, and what did Paul tell Timothy to take hold of?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold. Some think Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act. But we must have an active faith, obeying God with courage and doing what is right. Is it time for action on your part? Don't wait-get going! 6) What does Paul tell Timothy to keep without spot or blame, what will God bring about in his own time, how does Paul describe God, what did Paul say God is alone, where does Paul say God lives, and what did Paul say for God to be forever?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul concludes with a charge to Timothy to keep "this command," referring to the commands Christ has given to his church, or perhaps to Timothy's promise to serve Christ. 7) What does Paul tell Timothy to command those who are rich in this present world, who did Paul say for the rich to put their hope in, what does God richly provides us, what else does Paul tell Timothy to command the people in, in this way, why will they lay up a firm foundation for the coming age?
________________________________________________________________________________ Ephesus was a wealthy city, and the Ephesian church probably had many wealthy members. Paul advised Timothy to deal with any potential problems by teaching that having riches carries great responsibility. Those who have money must be generous, but they may not be arrogant just because they have a lot to give. They must be careful not to put their hope in money instead of the living God for their security. Even if we don't have material wealth, we can be rich in good deeds. No matter how poor we are, we have something to share with someone. 8) What did Paul tell Timothy to guard, what did Paul tell Timothy to turn away from, and what have some professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith?
________________________________________________________________________________ The book of 1 Timothy provides guiding principles for local churches, including rules for public worship and qualifications for overseers (elders, pastors), deacons, and special church workers (widows). Paul tells the church leaders to correct incorrect doctrine and to deal lovingly and fairly with all people in the church. The church is not organized simply for the sake of organization but so that Christ can be honored and glorified. While studying these guidelines, don't lose sight of what is most important in the life of the church-knowing God, working together in loving harmony, and taking God's Good News to the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers 1Timothy Chapter Six ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) so that God's name and our teaching may not be
slandered...because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear
to them ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |