1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 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" ( Titus 2:9 ). The exhortation is natural as there was a danger of Christian slaves inwardly feeling above their heathen masters.
their own masters--The phrase "their own," is an argument for submissiveness; it is not strangers, but their own masters whom they are required to respect.
all honour--all possible and fitting honor; not merely outward subjection, but that inward honor from which will flow spontaneously right outward conduct
that the name of God--by which Christians are called.
blasphemed--Heathen masters would say, What kind of a God must be the God of the Christians, when such are the fruits of His worship ( Romans 2:24 , Titus 2:5 Titus 2:10 )?

2. 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 all the more (so much the more: with the greater good will) do them service because they (the masters) are faithful (that is, believers) and beloved who receive (in the mutual interchange of relative duties between master and servant; so the Greek) the benefit" (English Version violates Greek grammar). This latter clause is parallel to, "because they are brethren"; which proves that "they" refers to the masters, not the servants, as TITTMANN takes it, explaining the verb in the common sense ( Luke 1:54 , Acts 20:35 ), "who sedulously labor for their (masters') benefit." The very term "benefit" delicately implies service done with the right motive, Christian "good will" ( Ephesians 6:7 ). If the common sense of the Greek verb be urged, the sense must be, "Because they (the masters) are faithful and beloved who are sedulously intent on the benefiting" of their servants. But PORPHYRY [On Abstinence, 1.46] justifies the sense of the Greek verb given above, which also better accords with the context; for otherwise, the article "the," will have nothing in the preceding words to explain it, whereas in my explanation above "the benefit" will be that of the slaves' service.
These things teach--( 1 Timothy 4:11 , Titus 2:15 ).

3. teach otherwise--than I desire thee to "teach" ( 1 Timothy 6:2 ). The Greek indicative implies, he puts not a merely supposed case, but one actually existing, 1 Timothy 1:3 , "Every one who teaches otherwise," that is, who teaches heterodoxy.
consent not--Greek, "accede not to."
wholesome--"sound" ( 1 Timothy 1:10 ): opposed to the false teachers' words, unsound through profitless science and immorality.
words of our Lord Jesus Christ--Paul's inspired words are not merely his own, but are also Christ's words.