1 Timothy 5:14

Contextual Overview

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ³ Honor widows who are widows indeed; ³Honor widows who are widows indeed, ³If a widow needs a hand, be the first to offer it. ³ Give honour to widows who are truly widows. ³ Honour widows who are really widows; ³ Support widows who are genuinely widows. ³ Honor widows who are widows indeed. ³ Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grand children, let these learn first to shew piety at home,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I will: 1 Timothy 2:8

the younger: 1 Timothy 5:11, 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Corinthians 7:8, 1 Corinthians 7:9, Hebrews 13:4

guide: Genesis 18:6, Genesis 18:9, Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 31:27-29, Titus 2:5,*Gr.

give: 1 Timothy 6:1, 2 Samuel 12:14, Daniel 6:4, Romans 14:13, 2 Corinthians 11:12, Titus 2:5, Titus 2:8, 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:15

to speak reproachfully: Gr. for their railing, Luke 23:35-41

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:24 - and they shall be one flesh Genesis 39:10 - or to be Deuteronomy 22:14 - General Ruth 3:1 - shall I not Nehemiah 5:9 - reproach Nehemiah 6:13 - that Psalms 119:39 - Turn Proverbs 7:11 - her feet Proverbs 31:13 - worketh Jeremiah 29:6 - Take ye Matthew 18:7 - unto Mark 9:42 - offend Romans 2:24 - the name Romans 12:17 - Provide 2 Corinthians 8:21 - for Philippians 2:15 - rebuke 1 Timothy 3:7 - lest 1 Timothy 5:9 - under Titus 2:4 - the 2 Peter 2:2 - pernicious ways

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I will therefore that the younger women marry,.... Or "the younger" widows rather; and so some copies read; for this is not the apostle's advice to young women in general, though it will suit with them, but with younger widows in particular, of whom he is speaking:

bear children; and bring them forth, and feed, and nourish them, and bring them up in a religious way:

guide the house; manage domestic affairs, direct, order, or do what is proper to be done for the good of the family; which is much more commendable than to throw themselves upon the church, and live an idle and wanton life, and after that marry: and so

give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully; that is, either that Satan, the grand adversary of the saints, might have no opportunity to reproach them, and cast in their teeth their unbecoming walk, or accuse them before the throne; or that any enemy of the Christian religion might have no room nor reason to speak evilly of Christ, his Gospel, truths, and ordinances, on account of the disorderly conversation of any that profess his name; or that the ο αντικειμενος, the great opposer of Christ, the man of sin, and son of perdition, even antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, might have no handle from hence to speak reproachfully of marriage, and forbid it, under a pretence of sanctity, as 1 Timothy 4:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will therefore - I give it as my opinion; or this is my counsel; compare notes, 1 Corinthians 7:6, 1Co 7:10, 1 Corinthians 7:40.

That the younger women marry - The word “women” is not expressed or necessarily implied in the original - neooteras - - and it is evident that the apostle here had particular reference to “widows,” and that the injunction should be understood as relating to them. We are not to suppose that he gives this as an absolute and universal command, for it might not always be at the option of the widow to marry again, and it cannot be doubted that there may be cases where it would be unadvisable. But he speaks of this as a general rule. It is better for such persons to have domestic concerns that require their attention, than it is to be exposed to the evils of an idle life. We may learn from this:

(1)That second marriages are not improper or unlawful, but that in some circumstances they may be preferable to widowhood;

(2)That marriage itself is in a high degree honorable. How different are the views of the inspired apostle Paul about marriage from those of the Papists!

Bear children, guide the house - These words signify, says Bloomfield, to “exercise and occupy themselves in the duties of a wife.” It is better to be employed in the duties growing out of the cares of a family, than to lead a life of celibacy.

Give none occasion to the adversary - The enemy of religion - the pagan or the infidel.

To speak reproachfully - Margin, “for their railing.” That is, on account of a life which would do no honor to religion. In the performance of domestic duties, when fully employed, they would avoid the evils specified in 1 Timothy 5:13. Every one who professes religion should so live as to give no occasion to an infidel or a man of the world to speak reproachfully of the cause of the Redeemer.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. I will therefore that the younger women marry — As the preceding discourse has been about the younger widows, and this is an inference from it; it is most evident that by the younger women the apostle means the young widows. These he considers unfit for the office of the female diaconate, and therefore wills them to marry, educate children, and give themselves wholly up to domestic affairs. Here the apostle, so far from forbidding second marriages, positively enjoins or at least recommends them. And what man of sense could have done otherwise in the cases he mentions? It is no sin in any case to marry, bear children, and take care of a family; but it is a sin in every case to be idle persons, gadders about, tattlers, busybodies, sifting out and detailing family secrets, c., &c. The good sentiment, put by an able poet and pious divine into the mouths of little children, cannot be ill applied to multitudes of women, mothers, and grandmothers: -

"See how the little busy bee

Improves each shining hour,

And gathers honey all the day

From every opening flower!

In works of labour or of skill,

We should be busy too

For Satan finds some mischief, still,

For idle hands to do." DR. WATTS.

The adversary — Any person, whether Jew or Gentile, who might be watching for an occasion to reproach, through the misconduct of its professors, the cause of Christianity.