1 Timothy 6 (Nasb)

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

2 Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles.

I preached on Philemon / Onesimus recently. According to Roman law runaway slaves could be severely punished or sentenced to death (NKJV)

Types of Slavery Permitted by the Bible - The Mosaic law permitted some types of slavery. These include:

1. Voluntary servitude by the sons of Israel (indentured servants)

2. Voluntary permanent slaves

3. Thief or criminal making restitution

4. Pagans could be permanent slaves

Involuntary Servitude is Not Biblical

The Mosaic slave laws and the writings of Paul benefited and protected the slaves as best as possible in their situation. God's desire for any who are enslaved is freedom (Luke 4:18; Gal. 5:1). Those who are set free in Christ then need to be prepared to walk in liberty. Pagan nations had a much different outlook toward slaves, believing slaves had no rights or privileges. Because of the restrictions and humane aspect of the Mosaic laws on slavery, it never existed on a large scale in Israel, and did not exhibit the cruelties seen in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Assyria and other nations. www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=120

3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

I’ve been doing ministry for 20+ years and am somewhat content. I’m thankful to the Lord for what He has done in and through me.

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

Here’s some morbid chaplain humor: Will our hearse have a trailer on it? Are we gonna pack it in our casket?:)

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

It’s good to publically say grace.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Our money can be used by Jesus, but we shouldn’t be in love with it. Some televangelists fell due to their love of money. I know of at least one who was a Federal inmate.

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith

Triumph lyrics: The Good Book says it's better to give than to receive, I do my best to do my part . . . Fight the good fight every moment; Every minute every day, Fight the good fight every moment, It's your only way

Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called / predestined? , and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Have you done this? By showing up to church / Bible studies / prayer meetings you are being seen by others.

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

We read about him in the Nicene’s creed. I long to see His shekinah glory cloud once in my lifetime. See www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/13537-shekinah for a scholarly definition.

14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which He will bring about at the proper time

chronos (our time), used in 2 Tim 1: 9 time either long or short, Strong’s Concordance 5550

vs. kairos (God’s time) due measure a measure of time, a larger or smaller portion of time, hence: a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for opportune or seasonable time the right time a limited period of time to what time brings, the state of the times, the things and events of time (www.biblemaster.com Strong’s Concordance 2540 He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords (Alleluia),