“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.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Timothy 6:2 Mean?
"They that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service." Paul addresses a specific dynamic: slaves who have Christian masters. The shared faith creates a potential problem: the slave might think "we're brothers now, so I don't have to serve you." Paul corrects this: brotherhood doesn't eliminate the service relationship. It transforms it.
The word "despise" (kataphroneo — to think down on, to look down on) describes a slave who uses the spiritual equality of brotherhood to justify looking down on the master's earthly authority. The equality before God doesn't automatically restructure every social arrangement.
The phrase "rather do them service" redirects the energy: instead of using brotherhood as grounds for disrespect, use it as motivation for better service. Your master is a believer — serve him even more faithfully because your service benefits a brother, not just an employer.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Does shared faith with colleagues produce better work or casual presumption?
- 2.How does knowing your service benefits a brother change your motivation?
- 3.What's the difference between spiritual equality and professional obligation?
- 4.Are you working harder for believing bosses because they're brothers — or less hard because they'll be understanding?
Devotional
Your boss is a Christian. That doesn't mean you stop working hard. It means you work harder — because your excellent service now benefits a brother.
Paul addresses a tendency that exists in every workplace where faith is shared: the assumption that spiritual equality overrides professional obligation. We're both believers, so the hierarchy shouldn't apply to me. We're brothers, so I shouldn't have to answer to you. Paul says: the opposite. The shared faith should produce better service, not less.
The logic is counterintuitive but sound: when your work benefits a fellow believer, the work itself becomes an act of love. You're not just earning wages — you're serving a brother. The service that might feel degrading to a non-believing master becomes an act of fellowship with a believing one.
This doesn't validate exploitative systems. Paul isn't endorsing slavery. He's addressing people already in the system with practical wisdom: within the structure you're in, your shared faith should elevate your performance, not give you an excuse to coast.
The same principle applies in every workplace: if your boss shares your faith, that's motivation for excellence, not permission for presumption. Brotherhood at church doesn't override professionalism at work. If anything, the shared faith raises the standard.
Are you serving your believing colleagues better because of your shared faith — or using the shared faith as grounds for casual performance?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And they that have believing masters,.... That believe in one God, in opposition to the Gentiles, that held many gods,…
And they that have believing masters - Masters who are Christians. It is clear from this, that Paul supposed that, at…
And they that have believing masters - Who have been lately converted as well as themselves.
Let them not despise them -…
I. Here is the duty of servants. The apostle had spoken before of church-relations, here of our family-relations.…
rather dothem service Better, serve them the rather, all the more zealously.
partakers of the benefit The article with…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture