1 Timothy 6:2 (ASV)

Passage

And 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. These things teach and exhort.

Nearby Context

1 Timothy 6:1 Let 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.

1 Timothy 6:2 And 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. These things teach and exhort.

1 Timothy 6:3 If 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;

1 Timothy 6:4 he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "believing", "masters", "despise", "brethren", "serve", "rather", "partake", and "benefit". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "believing" and "masters", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "Let as many as are servants under..." into verse 3's "If any man teacheth a different doctrine...", so "believing" and "masters" belong inside that flow. In 1 Timothy context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "believing" and "masters" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.