新约 - 提摩太前书(1 Timothy)第6章

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.
Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.
提摩太前书第六章   提前 6:1-2> 保罗所说的,对今天作雇主或雇员的你,有何启发? 

  6:1-2 在当时的社会制度下,主人和奴隶无论在社会地位或法律地位上,都极为悬殊。但成了基督徒以后,主人和奴隶在灵里却是平等的,在基督里都是弟兄姊妹(参加 3:28 )。保罗没有抨击奴隶制度,但给基督徒主人和基督徒奴隶一些指引。他就主仆关系所作的教导,也可以应用在今天的雇佣关系上。雇员需要努力工作,尊重雇主,而雇主则要公平对待雇员(参弗 6:5-9 ;西 3:22-25 )。我们的工作应该反映出我们对基督的忠诚和爱心。 

  提前 6:3-5> 有许多人竟“以敬虔为得利的门路”,你是为了什么而传福音的呢?是跟他们一样吗? 

  6:3-5 保罗告诉提摩太要避开那些为牟利而传教,和那些偏离正道、使教会引起纷争的人。一个人即使明白了高深的神学论点,也不应该藉此去约束别人或图利。要远离那些事事找人争论的人。 

  如何鼓励和支持在困境中的人 

  提前 6:6> 知足,常乐;但在什么事上知足?人真可以吗? 

  6:6 这是灵命成长和知足的秘诀。我们应该敬畏神,并把我们所有的盼望都集中在祂的身上(参太 6:33 ),这样神在我们生命中所做的事就可使我们得到最大的满足(参腓 4:11-13 )。 

  提前 6:6-10> 钱财总有一点什么魅力,对人心总有一点吸引力;要不落进贪恋的网罗?这…… 

  6:6-10 不管事实怎样告诉人金钱绝非快乐之源,但很多人仍然相信金钱能为他们带来快乐。有钱人为了赚取更多的钱财,自掘坟墓,最后跌进绝望和毁灭中。我们怎样做才不至于堕进贪爱金钱的陷阱中(参箴 30:7-9 )?保罗给了我们一些原则:( 1 )认识到一切财富有一天都会化为乌有( 6:7 , 17 );( 2 )为自己所拥有的感到满足( 6:8 );( 3 )监管自己,不要成为金钱的奴隶( 6:9-10 );( 4 )爱人多于爱钱( 6:11 );( 5 )爱神的工作多于爱金钱( 6:11 );( 6 )乐意与人分享自己所有的( 6:18 )。 

  提前 6:8> 知足,满足,够了就满足嘛,只是人的欲求好像无止境似的;人心的满足在乎…… 

  6:8 分辨“需要”和“欲望”是很重要的。我们可能已拥有生活上所需要的东西,却为了欲望而忧虑和不满。我们要学效保罗,即使所渴望的东西没有完全得到,仍可以满足,否则我们就只会变成欲望的奴隶。 

  提前 6:10> 贪财恶果多,有什么?你可以数数看…… 

  6:10 贪财会引起各样的问题。婚姻出问题、盗窃、人与人的关系破裂,往往都是贪财引起的,所以,我们要根治自己的贪念。 

  提前 6:11-12> 信仰道上,不是神作工就成了吗?还要我“逃避”、“追求”、“持定”? 

  6:11-12 保罗用主动而有力的词语“逃避”、“追求”、“打仗”、“持定”来描述基督徒的生命。有些人以为基督教是一个被动的宗教,只等候神去工作。错了,我们必须有主动的信仰,勇敢地顺服神,并按正道而行。现在就是你尽本分的时候,不要拖延,立刻行动! 

  提前 6:13> 6:13 福音书记载了耶稣在彼拉多前受审的事迹(参太 27:11-26 ;可 15:1-15 ;路 23:1-25 ;约 18:28-19:16 )。 

  提前 6:13-16> 在基督耶稣面前嘱咐你──嘱咐什么? 

  6:13-16 保罗最后告诫提摩太要守的命令,是基督曾给教会的命令,或者是提摩太要事奉基督的诺言。他对信仰的宣言有如基督在彼拉多前的宣告。 

  提前 6:17-19> 不一定要有钱,才可成今世富足的人,你也有,有什么?你看你所有的,有什么可以与人分享? 

  6:17-19 以弗所是一个富足的城市,以弗所教会大概也会有很多富有的信徒。保罗忠告提摩太,教导那些有钱人去承担重大的责任,以防范任何潜在的问题。他们需要慷慨施与,但不应因自己的施赠而趾高气扬。他们要小心别将盼望放在金钱上,而忘却了真正可靠的是永活的神。即使我们在物质上并不富足,我们也可以在善事上富足。不管我们如何贫穷,总有些东西可以与人分享。 

  提前 6:21> 这是一卷写给教会的书,其中原则你明了了多少? 

  6:21 提摩太前书为地方教会提供了非常重要的管理原则和生活准则,包括公众敬拜的纪律、长老(牧师)、执事、教会特别同工(在册的寡妇)的资格和对他们的要求等。保罗要求教会领袖必须纠正教会内不正确的教义,并且以爱心公平地处理教会的人与事。教会不纯粹是一个组织,而是尊崇和荣耀基督的群体。阅读这些指引的同时,不要忽略教会生活最重要的使命是认识神,以爱心互相包容、彼此同工,并且向全世界传扬福音。 ──《灵修版圣经注释》