1.
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2.
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3.
Honour widows that are widows indeed.
Verse 3
Widows indeed; those that are entirely friendless and desolate, as explained below. (1 Timothy 5:5.) To honor them in this case means to provide for them. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:17.)
4.
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
Verse 4
Let them,--that is, the children or nephews; let them take care of their relative, and not call upon the church.
5.
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
Verse 5
Trusteth in God, &c.; that is, she ought to trust in God, and live a holy and blameless life.
6.
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
Verse 6
Is dead; dead to the cause of Christ. Perhaps the meaning is, that she is to be excluded from all share in the charities of the church.
7.
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8.
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9.
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
Verse 9
Taken into the number; selected, chosen. This expression is usually understood to refer to some office in the church, held by aged widows, the nature of which we can only infer from the circumstances of the case. Perhaps Phebe (Romans 16:1,Romans 16:2) was one of this class.--Having been the wife of one man; having, been faithful and true during her married life. The expression cannot be intended to censure a second marriage, inasmuch as such a marriage is recommended in 1 Timothy 5:14.
10.
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
Verse 10
Washed the saints' feet; been hospitable and kind to them,--washing the feet being the token and symbol of hospitality.
11.
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
Verse 11
Refuse; that is, in respect to the appointment or election referred to above. (1 Timothy 5:9.)
12.
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
Verse 12
We are not sufficiently acquainted with the usage in the early church, to which the apostle refers in this passage, (1 Timothy 5:9-12,) to account for the apparent severity of this language. It seems to imply that being received into the number referred to above, (1 Timothy 5:9,) they came under some obligation to remain single, and in devote themselves for life to the service of the church. But what circumstances there were to render it necessary or desirable to impose such an obligation, does not appear.
13.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14.
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Verse 14
The younger women; including, of course, the widows, as it is this class which is the subject of these instructions.
15.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16.
If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
Verse 16
Have widows; related to them, or dependent upon them.
17.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Verse 17
Honor; reward. This is shown to be the meaning by 1 Timothy 5:18.
18.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Verse 20
Before all; publicly.
21.
I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Verse 21
The elect angels; the holy angels.
22.
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
Verse 22
Lay hands; in ordination.
23.
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
Verse 23
By this direction, which stands in striking contrast with the ascetic doctrines which Paul had condemned, (1 Timothy 4:3,) he shows that no religious end is answered by suffering any bodily discomfort or pain which can be avoided; but that Christianity seeks to promote the welfare and happiness of man in all respects,--in small things as well as in great, at present as well as for the future, and in respect to the comfort of the body as well as to the prosperity of the soul.
24.
Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
Verse 24
They follow after; that is, they are concealed for a time, and afterwards developed.
25.
Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
Verse 25
Cannot be hid; cannot long be hid. The meaning of the 1 Timothy 5:24,1 Timothy 5:25 is, that, though sin may be secreted for a time, and virtue remain unobserved, yet in the end the true character of every one will be fully known.