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Chapter 5
1. How to treat one Another 1 - 2.
1Ti 5:1 Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,
In chapter four verse twelve Paul tells Timothy to let no one despise or think less of him because of his youth. Now he instructs Timothy how he and every Christian for that matter should treat each other. An older man is not to be harshly criticised but to be appealed too respectfully just as though he was your own father (Exodus 20:12).
The younger men are to be treated as beloved brethren.
1Ti 5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters -- with complete purity.
Showing still the same respect for age the older women are to be shown the same consideration as that given a mother. The younger women are to be looked upon as sisters and with the same chaste feelings as one would have for a sister.
1Ti 5:3 Honor widows who are truly in need.
Those who are truly widows are not to be treated as if their lives are of no account but are to be given the true estimation of their worth.
2. Treatment of True Widows 4 - 16.
1Ti 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.
Paul makes it quite clear that the true widow is the one who has not only lost her husband but has no children or relatives to provide and care for her. The children and or grandchildren (nephews) of widows are to be made to realise that is their first duty to provide and show kindness to them. It is their duty to keep on giving back to their parents for all that they had provided and done for them in bringing them up. This is good and pleasing to God.
1Ti 5:5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.
A woman who is a real widow, one who is entirely bereaved, will put her complete trust in God and continue in supplications and prayer's night and day Luke 2:36-37).
1Ti 5:6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.
On the other hand the widow who in her bereavement turns to and spends all her time in luxury and abandoned living is dead even while she appears to live.
1Ti 5:8 But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Timothy is given the duty to make sure that children and grandchildren are aware of their responsibilities to widowed parents so that they might be free of guilt and blame.
1Ti 5:7 Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach.
If any Christian does not fulfil his duty to make provision for those who become dependent on him, particularly his own family then he contradicts his profession of faith in Christ. He is worse that the godless unbeliever.
1Ti 5:9 No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,
A widow that is under the age of sixty is not to be listed among those who are provided for by the church in their widowhood. She is neither to be added to the number if she has been the wife of more than one man. This would seem to suggest that if she had been divorced and remarried rather than remarried after becoming a widow.
1Ti 5:10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress -- as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.
Further qualifications are that she has a good reputation for doing good deeds; if she had borne children that she had brought them up well. Taken strangers into her home and cared for them, performed humble service to fellow Christians and given relief to those distressed and in trouble (Rom. 12:13). She must have diligently devoted herself in doing these good works. To sum it up if she has lived her life as a devoted Christian then she is entitled to be added to the list and provided for by the church as a widow.
1Ti 5:11 But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry,
Young widows are not to be accepted onto this register because of the possibility of them breaking vows they may have made at the time of them becoming widows to give themselves completely over to Christ, the desire to remarry becoming the more important.
1Ti 5:12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.
If they succumb to this then they will incur condemnation for breaking their earlier promise.
1Ti 5:13 And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.
In addition to this if they were supported by the church they are likely to become idle spending their time going from house to house gossiping and meddling in other people's affairs and saying things they should not.
1Ti 5:14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.
In Paul's opinion it would better if the young widows remarry have children and take care of their homes. In doing so they will give no opening for the enemy to say anything against them.
1Ti 5:15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.
Some young widows had already turned away from Christ to follow Satan.
1Ti 5:16 If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.
If any Christian has widows in their family they are to provide for them so that the burden of doing so does not fall on the church. The church is then free to assist those who are indeed widows.
3. Honouring Elders 17 - 20.
1Ti 5:17 Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.
Elders who serve the church well are to be deemed to be entitled to double pay (the word honour used here). Especially those who work hard in studying and expounding the Word of God and instructing in sound doctrine.
1Ti 5:18 For the scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The worker deserves his pay."
Paul uses an Old Testament verse to support this principal from Deut. 25:4 and one that he had already quoted in 1 Cor. 9:9. The Lord said that the ox that was used to tread out the corn must be allowed to eat of it for his labour. This he applies to the elders in the church. Again he uses the words of Jesus to substantiate this (Luke 10:7).
1Ti 5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.
Any complaint made against an elder is not to be accepted unless it is supported by two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15 and 2 Cor.13:1).
1Ti 5:20 Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.
Those who are found guilty and persist in their wrongdoing must be brought before the whole church and publicly rebuked so that the rest will be in fear and will not fear their example.
4. Fulfil these Things 21 - 25.
1Ti 5:21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.
Paul brings home to Timothy the seriousness of the things that he has been instructing him to follow by calling upon God, the Lord Jesus Christ and the holy angels that he should do these things. They are to be done without any favouritism or prejudice and regard to postion.
1Ti 5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
No hasty decision is to be made in ordaining a person for a position in the church. To do so may lead to overlooking any sin and it would appear by making an appointment that the sin is being approved. Make certain that you do not participate in other people's sin.
1Ti 5:23 (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)
Because Timothy suffered with some complaint of the stomach which water would seem to irritate, Paul advises him to take little wine to ease this problem. In 1 Tim. 3:3 Paul specifies that an elder (bishop) should not be given over to the habit of drinking wine. He is not contradicting this here but merely using common sense as water in those days was a prime source of disease just as it is in third world countries today. The prescription to take some wine as a medicine was to combat this.
1Ti 5:24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.
Some people's sins are apparent for they are openingly done, they are so obvious that they herald the judgment that is to come. The sins of others are not seen but will be revealed at the judgment (1 Cor. 4:5).
1Ti 5:25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.
In the same way the good works of some are seen and acknowledged now while others will be made known in due time.
