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),
16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light,
This is like the holiness of the Ark of the Covenant, etc. We can’t see the face of God and live:
whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! (force, strength power, might)
Amen.
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
T3 - our time, talent and treasure; Those who have money may worry about getting more or Losing It.
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future (here and in heaven), so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Lies, not truth. Grace be with you. We need to be careful about what we hear and say.
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
