1 Timothy 6:1 a. Slaves. Christianity freed slaves by evolution rather than revolution. A grave social peril would have arisen in the first century had slaves misinterpreted their liberty in Christ (pp. 649 f.). Timothy must guard against this (cf. Colossians 3:22; Ephesians 6:5; 1 Peter 2:18). The Gospel's honour demands loyalty even to heathen masters (Titus 2:9 f.). If those who would benefit by the slaves-' fuller service are fellow-believers, they should be served the more loyally.

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