Our Relationship with Our Relationship with Authority Authority 11stst Timothy 6:1-5 Timothy 6:1-5

“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.” – 1st Timothy 6:1 (KJV)

- “Servants”- a slave, bondman, man of servile condition

a) Servitude whether voluntary or involuntary

Note: Verse is not limited to slavery and can not be disqualified as inapplicable.

An Overview of Slavery “A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

- a person who works very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation.

- a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something.”

– Oxford English Dictionary

Originates with Noah’s curse over Ham

“And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” – Genesis 9:24-25 (KJV)

- Slavery was the product of a violent and forceful, emotional reaction.

Entering into Slavery: - The poor who were unable to pay debts - A thief unable to repay what he/she had stolen - Children born unto slaves (“house-born slaves”)

Slaves Could Procure Their Freedom: - 7th year - During the Year of Jubilee, all slaves freed - Buying freedom - Romans: Ownership transferred to a/the god(s)

“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.” – 1st Timothy 6:1 (KJV)

“…all possible and fitting honor; not merely outward subjection, but that inward honor from which will flow spontaneously right outward conduct.” – Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary

“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

– Titus 2:9-10 (KJV)

- “Not Answering Again” – Contradicting or contentious

- “Purloining” – to set apart for oneself, embezzle

“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

– Titus 2:9-10 (KJV)

“The heathen do not judge of the Christian’s doctrines from the doctrine, but from his actions and life.” - St. John Chrysostom (Early Church Father)

Excerpts from Absalom and Achitophel, a Poem – John Dryden

“Kings are the public pillars of the State,Born to sustain and prop the nation’s weight:If my young Samson will pretend a callTo shake the column, let him share the fall:But, oh, that yet he would repent and live!” - lines 953-957

Excerpts from Absalom and Achitophel, a Poem – John Dryden

“True, they petition me to approve their choice;But Esau’s hands suit ill with Jacob’s voice.” - lines 981-982

“Votes shall no more established power control-Such votes as make a part exceed the whole:” - lines 993-994

“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.” – 1st Timothy 6:1 (KJV)

“The reason: lest God should seem by the doctrine of the Gospel to stir up men to rebellion and all wickedness.” – Geneva Biblical Translation Notes

Principle:

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” – 1st Peter 3:1-2

Chaste = Clean, innocent, modest, and perfect

Conversation = Behavior

Fear = fear and reverence

“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” – 2ND Samuel 12:14 (KJV)

Two Consequences: 1) Blasphemy unto our Lord Jesus Christ 2) The Loss of Ministerial Ethos and (possibly) Function

Hope: 2nd Samuel 12:24

“And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.” – 1st Timothy 6:2 (KJV)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:8 (KJV) - The Conflict of Class

The issue of class is not a reflection of celestial proximity. - Class is an indicator of responsibility and treatment

Example: Pastor, Minister, LG Shepherd, Director

- Earthly Perspective: Separate, Apart, Honored

- Celestial Perspective: Care, Accountability, Adaptability

The Epistle to Philemon: - approximately 60 A.D. (1st Timothy 62-67 AD/CE) - To Philemon regarding Onesimus, a runaway slave - Paul recounts the conversion of Onesimus - Paul commands Onesimus to return to Philemon - Paul pleads Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother - Paul is so confidant in Philemon and his acceptance

of Onesimus, that he (Paul) offers to pay any expenses Philemon may have incurred.

Contributions of Philemon:

“While it was Philemon’s legal right in the ancient world to punish or even kill a runaway slave, Paul hoped -indeed expected - that Philemon would receive Onesimus back as a brother in the Lord, not as a slave.” – The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible

Contributions of Philemon:

“Although Paul never, so far as we know, called for an end of slavery, the Epistle of Philemon laid the ax to the root of that cruel and deformed institution – and to every way of treating individuals as property instead of persons.” – The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.” – 1st Timothy 6:3 (KJV)

“If any man teach otherwise - It appears that there were teachers of a different kind in the Church, a sort of religious levellers, who preached that the converted servant had as much right to the master’s service as the master had to his.” – Adam Clarke’s Commentary of the Bible

“He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” – 1st Timothy 6:3-5 (KJV)

- The Origin of Liberation Theology

Liberation Theology“Liberation theology is a theological movement that has attempted to unite theology with socio-economic concerns of the poor and oppressed people…” – The Moody Handbook of Theology

- Ignore issues of salvation and sin in lieu of political and social upheaval through revolutionary, if not violent avenues.

Ex: Latin American Theology, Black Theology, Feministic Theology, etc…

The role of a Christian is to submit to every vehicle of authority set before them, so long as that submission does not compromise his/her salvation.

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” - 1st Peter 2:13-15 (KJV)

“…and the way to meet those charges was to act in every way as became good citizens, and so as “to live them down.” One of the best ways of meeting the accusations of our enemies is to lead a life of strict integrity. It is not easy for the wicked to reply to this argument.” – Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible