1 Timothy 6 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

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                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                              Chapter Six

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To note the warnings about being obsessed with disputes and
   arguments over words, wranglings of men, etc.

2) To appreciate the counsel given to those who desire to be rich, and
   to those who are rich

3) To consider what the man of God is expected to flee and to pursue

SUMMARY

This final chapter begins with instructions concerning servants and 
their duties toward their masters, especially toward those masters who 
believe (1-2).  A description then follows of those who might teach 
otherwise and not consent to the wholesome words of our Lord and His 
doctrine which is according to godliness (3-5).  Mentioning the value 
of godliness when accompanied by contentment, Paul warns of the need 
to be content with food and clothing, and the danger facing those who 
desire to be rich (6-10).

Timothy is then charged to flee such things and to pursue things
becoming a man of God.  He is encouraged to fight the good fight of
faith, and to lay hold on eternal life.  He is then solemnly urged by
Paul to keep the commandment without spot and blameless until our 
Lord's appearing, whom Paul describes in the most amazing terms 
(11-16).

The epistle ends with instructions for Christians who are rich in this 
world, and with an impassioned plea for Timothy to guard what was 
committed to his trust, avoiding profane and vain babbling over false 
doctrine which has led others away from the faith (17-21).

OUTLINE

I. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING SERVANTS (1-2)

   A. HOW THEY SHOULD REGARD THEIR MASTERS (1)
      1. As worthy of all honor (1a)
      2. So that God and His doctrine might not be blasphemed (1b)

   B. HOW THEY SHOULD REGARD BELIEVING MASTERS (2)
      1. Not to be despised because they are brethren (2a)
      2. But to serve them, remembering that those who are benefited 
         are believers and beloved (2b)

II. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING TEACHERS MOTIVATED BY GREED (3-10)

   A. SUCH TEACHERS DESCRIBED (3-5)
      1. Anyone who does not consent to the wholesome words of our 
         Lord, and to the doctrine according to godliness (3)
      2. He is proud, knowing nothing (4a)
      3. He is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words (4b)
         a. From which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions
            (4c)
         b. From which come useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds
            and destitute of the truth (5a)
      4. Who supposes that godliness is a means of gain (5b)

   B. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTENTMENT (6-8)
      1. Godliness with contentment is great gain (6)
         a. For we brought nothing into this world (7a)
         b. And it is certain we can carry nothing out (7b)
      2. Thus we should be content with food and clothing (8)

   C. THE DANGERS FACING THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH (9-10)
      1. Those who desire to be rich fall...
         a. Into temptation and a snare (9a)
         b. Into many foolish and harmful lusts (9b)
         ...which drown men in destruction and perdition (9c)
      2. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (10a)
         a. For which some have strayed from the faith in their 
            greediness (10b)
         b. And have pierced themselves with many sorrows (10c)

III. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE MAN OF GOD HIMSELF (11-16)

   A. GENERAL EXHORTATIONS (11-12)
      1. Flee the things described before, such as the desire to be
         rich (11a)
      2. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, 
         gentleness (11b)
      3. Fight the good fight of faith (12a)
      4. Lay hold on eternal life (12b)
         a. To which you were called (12c)
         b. To which you have confessed the good confession in the
            presence of many (12d)
      
   B. A SOLEMN CHARGE (13-16)
      1. Urged by Paul in the sight of...
         a. God, who gives life to all things (13a)
         b. Jesus Christ, who witnessed the good confession before
            Pontius Pilate (13b)
      2. To keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the 
         Lord's appearing (14)
         a. Which He will manifest in His own time (15a)
         b. Who is then described as:
            1) The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and 
               Lord of lords (15b)
            2) He who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable
               light, whom no man has seen or can see (16a)
         c. To whom be honor and everlasting power (16b)

IV. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE RICH (17-19)

   A. WHAT TO COMMAND THEM (17)
      1. Not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches (17a)
      2. But to trust in the living God, who gives us richly all things
         to enjoy (17b)

   B. WHAT TO ENCOURAGE THEM (18-19)
      1. To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing 
         to share (18)
      2. Storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to
         come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (19)

V. CONCLUDING CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (20-21)
   
   A. A FERVENT PLEA TO TIMOTHY (20-21a)
      1. To guard what was committed to his trust (20a)
      2. To avoid the profane and vain babbling and contradictions of
         what is falsely called knowledge (20b)
      3. For by professing such, some have strayed concerning the faith
         (21a)

   B. A FINAL BENEDICTION:  "GRACE BE WITH YOU. AMEN" (21b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Instructions concerning servants (1-2)
   - Instructions concerning teachers motivated by greed (3-10)
   - Instructions concerning the man of God himself (11-16)
   - Instructions concerning the rich (17-19)
   - Concluding charge to Timothy (20-21)

2) How were servants to consider their masters?  Why? (1)
   - As worthy of all honor
   - That the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed

3) What were the servants who had believing masters cautioned against
   doing? (2)
   - Despising them because they are brethren

4) How is one described who does not consent to the words of our Lord,
   and to the doctrine which is according to godliness? (3-4)
   - Proud, knowing nothing, obsessed with disputes and arguments over
     words

5) What is of great gain? (6)
   - Godliness with contentment

6) With what should we be content? (8)
   - Having food and clothing

7) What happens to those who desire to be rich? (9)
   - They fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
     harmful lusts

8) What is a root of all kinds of evil? (10)
   - The love of money

9) What have some done in their greediness? (10)
   - Strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
     sorrows

10) What is the man of God to pursue? (11)
   - Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness

11) What is the man of God to fight, and to lay hold of? (12)
   - He is to fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal
     life

12) What did Paul urge Timothy to do? (13-14)
   - To keep the commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord's
     appearing

13) How does Paul describe our Lord Jesus Christ? (15-16)
   - The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of 
     lords
   - Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light

14) What was Timothy to command the rich? (17-19)
   - Not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the
     living God
   - To do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to
     share
   - To store up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
     that they may lay hold on eternal life

15) What was Timothy to avoid?  Why? (20-21)
   - Profane and vain babbling and contradictions of what is falsely
     called knowledge
   - By professing such things, some have strayed concerning the faith

16) What was Paul's final benediction to Timothy in this letter? (21)
   - Grace be with you
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