My Comment on 1Tim 6:1

My comment on

“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.” (1Tim 6:1)

by Pastor Lau Chin Kwee

The world just celebrated the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Cross-Atlantic Slave Trade on the 25th March 2007 with many articles and reports of events all over the world, depicting the horror of slavery and the goodness of the cessation of such a practice among men. Indeed, man is not able to handle such a practice aright and, therefore, it is better that the lesser evil be allowed than a legitimate practice abused to no end.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that slaves who "are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour", he was talking about the legitimacy of the practice of slavery. No,- he was not talking about slavery as practiced among unbelievers, but as among believers. He was talking about slaves and masters who are "brethren". (v.2) Some Christians today cannot imagine that there was a time when there were Christian masters who own Christian slaves and they were both very happy and thankful. Such Christians would be shocked to learn that the ultimate, proper understanding of our relationship with God (as far as service towards Him is concerned) is that of a willing slave to his glorious Master.

The Apostle Paul was unashamed to use his title as a slave of Jesus Christ in many of his letters to the Church. The Apostle Peter reminded believers that they are bought with a price, like many other slaves were bought in those days. Our no-slave environment today is no friend to the proper understanding of God's Word on the matter of Christian Service.

How could we properly understand God's Word, if "the name of God and his doctrine" is blasphemed? Paul told believing slaves to serve their believing masters that "the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed". To teach that it is wrong to own or to be a slave is to undermine the name and doctrine of God. This is not to suggest that in all owning of and serving as slaves, there is no sins involved. In fact, in most, if not all, such practices among men, grievous sins are manifested to the much sufferings of our fellow-human beings. Paul wrote that if one denies the legitimacy of slavery (and therefore to God as well), then such a man "consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness." (v.3) Are you truly a godly person, if you consent not to such words? What kind of godliness are you promoting if it is not the godliness according to the wholesome word?

There is such a thing as "unwholesome word" which promotes a false brand of godliness, which we as Christians are called to be constantly on guard against. Unwholesome words are teachings which do not seek to harmonize the whole Word of God, but instead leave "mine" discrepancies in the doctrine of God, here and there, to be exploded whenever stepped upon by unsuspecting, innocent believers. Therefore, believers are always called upon to search the Scriptures daily to see if those things they are hearing are so. All the more they should be alerted and be on guard whenever called upon to "move on" while they are still in confusion.

Are you still in confusion about the matter of slavery? If you are, don't just move on even though the world has just celebrated the 200th Anniversary of its abolition. You move on to your own peril and harm as the servants of Christ.

You are always welcomed to write to me to clarify anything, if need be.