SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:1
¶ Todos los que están debajo del yugo de servidumbre, tengan a sus señores por dignos de toda honra, para que no sea blasfemado el Nombre del Señor y su doctrina.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 6:1
Verse 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke] The word douloi here means slaves converted to the Christian faith; and the zugon, or yoke, is the state of slavery; and by despotai, masters, despots, we are to understand the heathen masters of those Christianized slaves. Even these, in such circumstances, and under such domination, are commanded to treat their masters with all honour and respect, that the name of God, by which they were called, and the doctrine of God, Christianity, which they had professed, might not be blasphemed-might not be evilly spoken of in consequence of their improper conduct. Civil rights are never abolished by any communications from God's Spirit. The civil state in which a man was before his conversion is not altered by that conversion; nor does the grace of God absolve him from any claims, which either the state or his neighbour may have on him. All these outward things continue unaltered. See the notes on Eph. vi. 5, &c.; and 1 Cor. vii. 21, &c., and especially the observations at the end of that chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Let as many servants as are under the yoke , etc.] Not under the yoke of the law of God, or under the yoke of Christ; though the servants here spoken of were under both; but “under the yoke of government”, as the Arabic version renders it; that is, under the yoke of men, in a state of servitude, under the government of masters, and in their service; being either apprentices to them, or bought with their money, or hired by them: count their own masters worthy of all honour ; and give it to them; which includes subjection to them; obedience to all their lawful commands, which are consistent with religion and reason, with the laws of God, and with the light of nature; and all reverence of them, and respect unto them, expressed by words and gestures: and all this is to be given to their own masters to whom they belong; who have a property in them; whose money or goods they are; and that be they what they will, as to their religion and temper; whether they be believers or unbelievers; or whether they be good and gentle, kind and humane; or whether they be froward, peevish, and ill natured: that the name of God and [his] doctrine be not blasphemed ; by unbelieving masters, who, should their believing servants be refractory, disobedient, rebellious, or disrespectful, would be apt to say, what a God do these men serve? is this their religion? is this the Gospel they talk of? does their doctrine teach them such things, to be disobedient to their masters, and carry it disrespectfully to them? does it disengage them from the laws of nature, and dissolve the bonds of civil society, and destroy the relation that subsists between man and man? If this be the case, away with their God and their doctrine too. Wherefore the apostle exhorts, that if believing servants have any regard to that name they are called by, and call upon, and to the doctrine of the Gospel they have embraced and professed; that they would be obedient and respectful to their masters; that they may have no occasion to speak reproachfully of God, and of the Gospel.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Christians were not to suppose that religious knowledge, or Christia privileges, gave them any right to despise heathen masters, or to disobey lawful commands, or to expose their faults to others. And suc as enjoyed the privilege of living with believing masters, were not to withhold due respect and reverence, because they were equal in respec to religious privileges, but were to serve with double diligence an cheerfulness, because of their faith in Christ, and as partakers of his free salvation. We are not to consent to any words as wholesome, excep the words of our Lord Jesus Christ; to these we must give unfeigne consent. Commonly those are most proud who know least; for they do no know themselves. Hence come envy, strife, railings, evil-surmisings disputes that are all subtlety, and of no solidity, between men of corrupt and carnal minds, ignorant of the truth and its sanctifyin power, and seeking their worldly advantage. (1Ti 6:6-10)
Greek Textus Receptus
οσοι 3745 εισιν 1526 5748 υπο 5259 ζυγον 2218 δουλοι 1401 τους 3588 ιδιους 2398 δεσποτας 1203 πασης 3956 τιμης 5092 αξιους 514 ηγεισθωσαν 2233 5737 ινα 2443 μη 3361 το 3588 ονομα 3686 του 3588 θεου 2316 και 2532 η 3588 διδασκαλια 1319 βλασφημηται 987 5747
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. As many servants as are under the yoke (osoi eisin upo zugon douloi). Incorrect. Rather, as many as are under the yoke as bondservants. As bondservants is added in explanation of under the yoke, which implies a hard and disagreeable condition. Yoke is used only here of the state of slavery. In Gal. v. 1; Acts xv. 10, of the Mosaic law. See on Matthews xi. 29.
Their own (touv idiouv). Lit. private, personal, peculiar, as 1 Corinthians iii. 8; vii. 7. Sometimes strange, eccentric. Constrasted with dhmosiov public or koinov common. See Acts iv. 32. Sometimes without emphasis, substantially = possessive pronoun, just as Lat. proprius passes into suus or ejus, or oijkeiov belonging to one's house into the simple one's own. See on Gal. vi. 10, and comp. Matthews xxii. 5; xxv. 14. In LXX commonly with the emphatic sense. Very often in the phrase kat' ijdian privately, as Mark iv. 34; Luke ix. 10; Gal. ii. 2, but nowhere in Pastorals.
Masters (despotav). Comp. Tit. ii. 9, and see on 2 Pet. ii. 1. Not in Paul, who styles the master of slaves kuriov Lord. See Eph. vi. 9; Col. iv. 1.
Count (hgeisqwsan). Implying a more conscious, a surer judgment, resting on more careful weighing of the facts. See Philip. ii. 3, 6. Be not blasphemed (mh - blasfhmhtai). Or be evil spoken of. See on blasphemy, Mark vii. 22, and be evil spoken of, Rom. xiv. 16; 1 Corinthians x. 30. Paul uses the word, but not in the active voice as in the Pastorals.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:1 {Under the yoke} (hupo zugon). As slaves (douloi, bondsmen). Perhaps under heathen masters (#1Pe 2:18). For the slave problem, see also #Phm 1; Col 3:22; Eph 6:5; Tit 2:9. See #Mt 11:29 for Christ's "yoke" (zugon, from zeugnumi, to join). {Their own masters} (tous idious despotas). That is always where the shoe pinches. Our "despot" is this very Greek word, the strict correlative of slave (doulos), while kurios has a wider outlook. Old word only here, #Tit 2:9; 2Ti 2:21; 1Pe 2:18 for human masters. Applied to God in #Lu 2:29; Ac 4:24,29 and to Christ in #2Pe 2:1. {The name of God} (to onoma tou qeou). See #Ro 2:24. If the heathen could say that Christian slaves were not as dependable as non-Christian slaves. Negative purpose with hina me and present passive subjunctive (blasfemetai).
