Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Timothy Chapter 6
Metaphysically Interpreting I Timothy 6:1-2a
6:1Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. 6:2And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Timothy 6:2b-10
These things teach and exhort. 6:3If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 6:4he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 6:5wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain. 6:6But godliness with contentment is great gain: 6:7for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; 6:8but having food and covering we shall be therewith content. 6:9But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.6:10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
June 24, 1945: I Timothy 6:3-5
Of what are sound words an indication? Of sound judgment and reasonableness. Impartiality and an element of impersonality also are implicit in them.
What effect have sound words on the hearer? They inspire trust and confidence in him and give him a desire to express his convictions in his turn.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Timothy 6:11-19
6:11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 6:13I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; 6:14that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 6:15which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 6:16who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen.
6:17Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 6:18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 6:19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.
December 15, 1929: I Timothy 6:17-19
In what verse are we warned against the assuming of the aristocracy of riches? In verse 17 the apostle charges us to beware of the high-minded attitude of those who have their hope set upon the uncertainty of riches and that we should set our minds upon God, “who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
What good advice does the apostle Paul give to the rich? The apostle urges those who have wealth to “be rich in good works,” also to distribute their riches.
What promise is offered to those who do the good works and give their wealth to the furtherance of the Lord's work? The apostle describes them as “laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.”
December 6 , 1936: I Timothy 6:6-16
In what sense is it true that we bring nothing into the world and carry nothing out? This statement is true only in a material sense. We bring with us into the world mental aptitudes, predispositions, tendencies, and many other subconscious gifts in addition to our physical body.
How can we make godliness and contentment our normal self-expression? Through sincere effort toward these ends, especially if the right foundation has been laid for us by prenatal and early environmental influences. Both these forms of preparation fit us to develop our true nature with the least resistance from sense consciousness.
To what extent is it necessary for us to devote our time to material gain? We must supply our elementary needs, food, clothing, and shelter. With these met it is not necessary for us to devote further time to material gain.
What effect does the ideal of amassing wealth have on character? The pursuit of wealth by man to the exclusion of other interests sets his character in the mold of externals, and prevents him from building into it the elements that endure.
How does man develop righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness? Man develops these Godlike qualities by working quietly in prayer, meditation and action expressing the inspiration thus gained.
How do we avoid foolish and hurtful lusts like the love of money? By fixing the mind on a constructive desire, we rid ourselves of temptation to yield to negative influences. In spiritual as in physical development, activity is the law. Unless one follows a higher desire in the effort to realize it, one becomes subject to undesirable lower interests and motives.
June 24, 1945: I Timothy 6:9-16
Is the love of money incompatible with true prosperity? Love of money shows that personality is in control of the life, whereas true prosperity is founded on a consciousness of the unfailing riches of the inner realm. A person may have great material wealth and still feel poor, as does the miser, but no one who is conscious of All-Good as omnipresent feels otherwise than rich. No one can love money for its own sake and at the same time possess the true riches.
Can the law of increase be misused by the seeker after Truth to gain material wealth? It can be, but in so doing he finds not Truth but its opposite with all the negation that this implies. What the thought is fixed upon tends to increase in consciousness, but consciousness itself can restrict the soul within such narrow bounds as to make a person a prisoner or a slave instead of a freeman. “To have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always” is the way to freedom.
What is “the good fight of the faith”? The ceaseless effort to transform the lower nature into the higher through the power of the Christ.
When does one “lay hold on the life eternal”? Whenever will supplements the understanding that the life of the Christ is hidden in the soul of man and that it can be called forth by faithfully following the urge to lift up mind and soul to the standard of the perfect. “Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” are all parts of the perfection of eternal life.
Does the charge to “keep the commandment without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” refer to a personal return of Jesus to the earth? No, it refers to the expression of the divine idea of man in each individual as each one succeeds in laying hold of the life eternal. That it does not refer to a physical reappearance of Jesus is evident in the description of the glorified Jesus Christ as “King of kings, and Lord of lords . . . whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” Jesus Christ is no longer visible to the eye of sense. “Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.”
Metaphysically Interpreting I Timothy 6:20-21
6:20O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 6:21which some professing have erred concerning the faith.
Grace be with you.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-10-2014
