Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 10: Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

Paul's Epistles – I Timothy – Part 10:

Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

This letter from Paul to Timothy will be the next “epistle” examine.

Immediately on his release from his first imprisonment before he visited Spain (Romans 15:24; Philemon 22), Paul more than likely visited Macedonia, Ephesus, etc. Not being able to stay long at Ephesus, he left Timothy to take charge of the work.

This parting was a tough trial to Timothy (I Timothy 1:3; II Timothy 1:4).

To encourage and instruct Timothy (who was sensitive and timid, and not strong (II Timothy 5:23 frequently upset stomach because of nerves), Paul wrote and forwarded this letter from Corinth.

PREVIOUSLY

False Doctrine and the Law

The Lord’s Grace and Timothy’s Charge

Pray for All

Requirements for Elders and Deacons

Paul’s Reason for writing Timothy this letter

Truth Versus Apostasy

Widows

Elder’s

TODAY’S SERMON

Slaves, False Teachers & Timothy’s Charge

 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

I Timothy 6 (65 AD)

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. ² 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. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they 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 ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.    Grace be with you all.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“We are designed to accomplish” - I Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

I. SLAVES (SERVANTS, EMPLOYEES)

a. Slaves (servants, employees) under the yoke

                                                                 i. In Paul’s day slaves were common

                                                              ii. Some were servants, maids, farmers, indentured

                                                           iii. Some traded labor in fields for room and board, or land

                                                            iv. Today we may equate this with employment

1. We are bound by contract when hired to do a certain job for a determined reward

2. Masters are employers, slaves (servants) employees

b. Consider you master (employer) worthy of respect

                                                                 i. When working for your employer, work as if for the Lord

                                                              ii. Regardless of whether the employer deserves it

                                                           iii. Because you represent the Lord in the world, you are the light in dark places

                                                            iv. Paul says to give respect, “So that God’s name may not be slandered.”

c. If your master (employer) is a believer

                                                                 i. Do not show him disrespect because you are equal in Christ

                                                              ii. But serve them even better!

                                                           iii. Employers who are believers are (instructed to be) devoted to the welfare of their employees

II.      FALSE TEACHERS

a. These are the things you are to teach and insist on

                                                                 i. Teach because it is truth, insist because there will be resistance

                                                              ii. If anyone teaches otherwise, and does not agree with sound doctrine, they are conceited and understand nothing!

b. False teachers

                                                                 i. False Teachers

1. Do not agree with sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ

2. Do not agree with godly teaching

a. Luke 20:25; Matthew 5:44; 11:28-30

3. They are conceited and understand nothing

4. They have unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels

a. Pointless debates that have ruined churches and even denominations

5. Resulting in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, constant friction between people of corrupt mind

6. They have been robbed of truth and think godliness is a means to financial gain

c. What is of great gain

                                                                 i. But godliness with contentment is great gain

1. We are thankful to God for what we have, this is contentment

2. We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it

3. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that

                                                              ii. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap (sacrifice principles)

                                                           iii. and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction

                                                            iv. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil

                                                               v. Some, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s

III.   MAN OF GOD

a. But you, man of God

                                                                 i. flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness

                                                              ii. Fight the good fight of faith

1. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called

b. Command those who are rich in this present world

                                                                 i. Not to be arrogant

                                                              ii. Not to put their hope in wealth

                                                           iii. But put their hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment

                                                            iv. Command them to do good

                                                               v. To be rich in “good deeds”

                                                            vi. To be generous and willing to share

                                                         vii. In this way they lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life

c. Guard what has been entrusted to you

                                                                 i. Turn away from godless chatter

                                                              ii. and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge

                                                           iii. Which some have professed, and by doing so have departed the faith

CONCLUSION – PAUL’S MESSAGE TO TIMOTHY

In I Timothy, Paul has instructed Timothy about False Doctrines, The Law, Paul’s own confession, forgiveness and conversion, so “Pray for All!”

Paul also spoke of the requirements for the Elders and Deacons, Truth verses Apostasy, instructions for caring for widows, Elder’s instructions and finally today’s message about slaves, false teachers and Paul’s final charge and instruction to Timothy.

 Next week we will begin looking at II Timothy

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