Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 5

Verse 1

1 Timothy 5:1

Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father;—Paul here instructs Timothy how to treat the different ages and classes of people. The term elder sometimes denotes an overseer of the church, but here it means those advanced in age, for it is put in contrast with the elderly women, the younger men, and the younger women. He admonishes Tim­othy not to rebuke or speak harshly to the aged men; but, if they commit wrong instead of reproving them in a cen­sorious manner, entreat kindly or beseech them to turn from the wrong as a son would his father.

the younger men as brethren:—Treat the younger as a man would his brother. Do it in and from love.

Verse 2

1 Timothy 5:2

the elder women as mothers;—Treat the elderly women with respect and affection as one would his own mother.

the younger as sisters, in all purity.—As a brother would his own sisters. The younger women must be treated by him in all purity. Let no impure thought or practice be cherished in your association with them. [What miserable scandals would have been avoided in all ages if this had been constantly remembered? If Timothy was thus advised, let others con­sider what sort of conduct is required of them that they should give no ground of suspicion, no shadow of pretext to those who wish to calumniate.]

Verse 3

1 Timothy 5:3

Honor widows—The word honor contains the idea not only of respect, consideration, but also in such a connection as this, that of temporal support. It suggests that such relief is not to be dealt to them as paupers, in a manner so as to degrade them, but as to Christians whom the church holds in honor, and to whom it thus shows honor. Care for widows was a marked feature of the Old Testament (Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 24:17-19), and in the apostolic churches it was very early made a prominent duty (Acts 6:12).

that are widows indeed.—Those who are destitute and truly desolate, without children or relatives to whom they can look for help. Widows in this condition are widows indeed and need the help and support of the church.

Verse 4

1 Timothy 5:4

But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family,—They should learn first to care for their helpless and destitute mother or grandmother, and even if they are not destitute, this piety demands kindness, gentleness, patience, and love toward their own family.

and to requite their parents:—Repay with love and tender regard the parents in their helpless old age for all the love, patience, sleepless care they took for you in your helpless infancy. None can ever know the intensity of a mother’s love for her child, her constant self-denying life to help the child she has borne. Now a child should remember this and return it in kindness and love when the mother grows old.

for this is acceptable in the sight of God.—What we render in kindness and love to our parents, God accepts as service to him.

Verse 5

1 Timothy 5:5

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,—She that is destitute, helpless, without children, or other relatives on whom she could depend for support is a widow indeed.

hath her hope set on God,—She has no one to whom to look but God.

and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.—Her lack of others on whom to depend leads her to feel her dependence upon God, and makes her constantly come with supplications and prayers to God for help night and day.

Verse 6

1 Timothy 5:6

But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.—In contrast with her who feels her bereaved condition and draws near to God, the widow who lives for pleasure is dead. [Her frivolous, selfish, sensual existence is not true life; it fills none of life’s true ends; and, as to any real value to herself or to others, she is practically dead. While alive in the flesh, she has no real life in the Spirit.]

Verse 7

1 Timothy 5:7

These things also command, that they may be without reproach.—Give these teachings in charge of the whole church that they may be without blame in providing for “widows indeed,” and not pampering idleness in those able to take care of themselves.

Verse 8

1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household,—If any child or grandchild provides not for his own widowed mother or grandmother, especially, those who live with him, he is guilty of a crime in the sight of God.

he hath denied the faith,—So heinous is the crime that he denies the faith in so doing. To grossly violate the will of God is to deny the faith, and a failure to provide is such a violation.

and is worse than an unbeliever.—Many of the godless heathens, recognized the duty of caring for their parents, and for Christians not to do it is worse than an unbeliever. By some it is interpreted to mean if a man does not provide for his own family. But this is to introduce a wholly foreign subject in the connection and to do violence to the context.

Verse 9

1 Timothy 5:9

Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old,—[This did not necessarily preclude aid to widows who were younger and were in need; but these were the ones who were to be enrolled in the class whom the church maintained in comfort and in honor.]

having been the wife of one man,—[The fatal facility and the lax state of morality in the pagan world, and even in this country, must be taken into account when we seek to illustrate and explain the directions to Christians. She must not he a bigamist, or an adulteress, or one who had indulged in the prevalent custom of divorce, but had been faithful and true to her marriage vow.]

Verse 10

1 Timothy 5:10

well reported of for good works—Who has been faith­ful in performing good works so that she has a good report for them. [The Lord Jesus had first used the phrase and taught how “good works" of his disciples (Matthew 5:16), as they were evidences of his own mission (John 10:32-33). It denotes all kinds of good actions as distinguishes from sentimentality—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick are good works. (Matthew 25:35-36.) ]

if she hath brought up children,—To bring up children faithful to God is implied. The church has no more important work than bearing children and training them for service to God. [She must be well known as one who loves children, and would be ready and willing gladly to discharge any duties to children who might be entrusted to her charge.]

if she hath used hospitality to strangers,—Entertaining strangers has always been esteemed a virtue among the serv­ants of God. “Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2.) The strangers to be entertained are those without means to care for themselves.

if she hath washed the saints’ feet,—Feet were washed at the end of a footsore journey, and was an act of hospitality to strangers. This had from the beginning been regarded as an act of hospitality and kindness. Abraham entertained strangers and offered them (Genesis 18:4.) Jesus set his disciples the example that they should go beyond the hospitality of the ancients in love and condescension; they should wash the feet of their brethren. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and told them that they “also ought to wash one another's feet.” (John 13:14.) In the passage before us Paul classes it as a good work with bringing up children and visiting the sick. It is nowhere regarded as a church ordinance. Pious and godly women did it for their brethren who came to them.

if she hath relieved the afflicted,—[Not merely, or even chiefly, by gifts, but by all kindly and sisterly encouragement, ever ready to mourn, deeming none too low or degraded for her kindness, none out of reach of her sisterly help and counsel, implying the visitation of the distressed in their homes.]

if she hath diligently followed every good work.—Every work that administered good to needy and suffering men and women. Women who have through life so conducted themselves as to be well reported of for such works are to he honored and supported by the church.

Verse 11

1 Timothy 5:11

But younger widows refuse:—Do not take into the num­ber to be honored or supported widows younger than three­score.

for when they have waxed wanton against Christ,—Those younger than sixty are liable to grow wanton or wax lustful against Christ. [The word wanton implies indulging in desires which, in spirit and conduct, are in opposition to Christ. It is to sur­render oneself to a carnal and luxurious course of life as antagonistic to the claims and calling of Christ.]

they desire to marry;—“The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:17.) He does not condemn their marrying, but encourages it. (1 Timothy 6:14.) The point the apostle makes is that the younger widows would cultivate idle habits and excite wanton and lascivious feelings that would lead them to give up faith in and obedience to Christ and they would seek marriage.

Verse 12

1 Timothy 5:12

having condemnation,—They would fall under condem­nation. [Those who give up the work which for their Master’s sake they have undertaken, expose themselves to a searching judgment, which will thoroughly sift the reasons that in­duced them to forsake the begun toil, and that, if the reasons be not satisfactory, will be unfavorable, and will surely in­volve condemnation.]

because they have rejected their first pledge.—This seems to carry with it the idea that the coming into the number that are supported by the church take on themselves pledges of fidelity and self-consecration to God and his cause. Younger women in wantonness of the flesh give up their feeling of self-consecration and seek to gratify their feelings in marriage. They take a step away from Christ. A backward step from Christ is a fearful step. Christians ought to daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and this will daily draw them nearer and nearer to God. The first step away from God is the fatal one.

Verse 13

1 Timothy 5:13

And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house;—That giving way to the feelings of the flesh shows itself in a disposition to wander from house to house.

and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speak­ing things which they ought not.—This leads to idle and mischievous gossip and vicious talking. Friendly intercourse and kindly offices of friendship are good; especially is it good to care for the sick and to help the needy, but too much and constant visiting and going from place to place are not good either for the visited or the visitor.

Verse 14

1 Timothy 5:14

I desire therefore that the younger widows marry,—It is better that the younger widows should marry than that they should be taken into the number of those cared for by the church. Marriage and a home of her own to look after and care for are needed to develop the better nature and call out the true abilities and qualities of women.

bear children, rule the household,—They fulfill their true destiny, call into their noblest qualities, and develop the high­est type and character of true womanhood in marrying, bear­ing children, and training souls for immortality, and making good homes as of virtue, morality, and godli­ness. No holier trust was ever committed to mortals than this.

give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:—In failing to do these things they give occasion to the adversary of Christ to speak reproachfully of his cause and people. Paul said that the elderly women should be instructed to “train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4-5.) Reproach and blasphemy of the word of God is brought in by Christian women failing to keep a clean and comfortable home. These may seem to be small things, but to God nothing is small. These seemingly small things are often most far-reaching and widespread in their influence for good or evil.

Verse 15

1 Timothy 5:15

for already some are turned aside after Satan.—Some had already forsaken God and turned aside to follow Satan. And he warns them against the influences that lead in that direction.

Verse 16

1 Timothy 5:16

If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.—The apostle here gives the general direction, if any woman have a widowed mother or grandmother, let her relieve them, take care of them, and let not the church be charged with their support that it may relieve widows that have no one to support them. This applies to men as well as women. (See verse 8.) Paul here, as the Scriptures everywhere do, recognizes that men and women able to work should have some proper calling at which they should labor industrially to make a living for themselves and to support those who by the ties of nature are dependent upon them. It is the duty of the church of God to require all to work and discharge the duties they owe to their families and kindred.

Verse 17

1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well—The apostle having con­cluded the direction as to the support of widows comes to the treatment of the elders. The elders here, as the con­nection plainly shows, refers to those who had the oversight of the congregation. They were selected by looking out those who had the qualifications set forth. (3:1-7.) How they were selected gives the trouble. Luke gives an example of selecting persons to work in the church. The apostles were the teachers and the leaders. They directed the disciples: ‘‘Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. . . . And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus. . . . whom they set before the apostles.” (Acts 6:3-6.) The expression, “Look ye out,” carries the thought of diligent in­quiry and private consultation to reach the agreement. This is not nominating and electing by votes. Nothing of this kind is found in the Scriptures. This excites division, party spirit, and strife, while the scriptural order seeks union, har­mony, and agreement. They were to inquire among them­selves who was most suited according to the qualifications given by God. When the agreement was reached, the apostles appointed them to the work. A faithful preacher present or anyone capable of conducting public affairs might do this for the congregation now. When the selection has been made, it is their duty to take the oversight of the congrega­tion, direct its affairs in its public meetings, and to look after the lives of the members and see that all engage in the work for which they are fitted. This takes time and attention. They are the overseers and teachers of the churches and individual members. They are to teach the word of God.

be counted worthy of double honor,—They are entitled to the respect and honor of the members of the church and are entitled to support while in the work. The idea of doing God’s work for money or for the wages it brings is abhorring to this Scripture teaching. That idea destroys it as God's work. A man that preaches for the money he gets is not approved of God and will never receive reward from God. While this is true, the man who labors for good must live, and when he devotes his time to the service, it is the duty of the people of God to support him. This applies to labor of any kind in the church. The elders who devote their time to the service of God through the church must be supported. The honor bestowed on them is not only respectful treatment and deference, but support.

especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.—Those who do their duty well, preaching the word privately and publicly, are worthy of a double portion of honor and support. The elders of a church are always spoken of in the plural, showing that a plurality of elders for each congregation was contemplated. It also shows that some elders labored in word and doctrine—devoted their time to preaching and teach­ing—while others did not. All gave attention to the interests of the church and looked after the welfare of the members. Some did it in a private way, others devoted their time to teaching and preaching. These were entitled to double honor.

Verse 18

1 Timothy 5:18

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.—This is given as an illustra­tion of the relation the elder who labors sustains to the church. The ox does not tread out the corn for the sake of what he eats but how he is used to do that work; it is right that he should enjoy the fruits of his work so as to eat of the corn while he treads it out.

And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.—This does not mean that he is to labor for the sake of the money, but while laboring he is worthy of his support. Jesus in sending out his apostles quoted it: “The laborer is worthy of his food.’’ (Matthew 10:10.) Worthy of a support to enable him to do the work.

Verse 19

1 Timothy 5:19

Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.—No accusation of wrong or ill-doing is to be entertained against an elder, save before two or three witnesses. It seems that Timothy as the inspired representative of the apostles was forbidden to entertain an accusation, which indicates that accusations against elders would come before him. Under the idea that young men as evangelists are the successors in the office of Timothy and Titus, the idea prevails to some extent that any youth doing the work of an evangelist may try and dispose of elders, and lord it over the heritage of God. Timothy and Titus as inspired men were the representatives of the apostles of God until the canon of revelation was perfected. None occupy such position before God or such relations to the church now as did these men. The fellow elders as the rulers of the church might bear such accusations regulated by the scriptural teachings on the subject or wise and prudent men might be chosen to make such investigations as are needed and might act for the church. The elders are not to do all the work, but to see that it is done by those who are competent to do it.

Verse 20

1 Timothy 5:20

Them that sin reprove in the sight of all,—When the accusations have been properly made and the elders found guilty of sin, reprove them in the sight of all. When we cover up sins in the church, we corrupt the morality and virtue of the church and destroy its efficacy to honor God or to save men. Evil teachers and evil men must be exposed and purged out of the church or the church becomes corrupt and a synagogue of Satan instead of a church of Jesus Christ. And what or who is injured by exposing evil teaching or evil men? No truth can be injured by the exposure of falsehood. The greatest injury that can be inflicted on truth is to yoke it with falsehood. God cannot be honored by covering up evil and cherishing false teachers or evil men in the church. To do this is to honor the devil and his servants equally with God and his servants. It cannot help good men to keep evil men in association with them. It corrupts their good­ness, destroys their influence for good, injures bad men them­selves, and countenances them as though they were good. The weakness of the churches is: they cherish falsehood and evil among them. They cannot be strong either with God or man while so doing. To expose error and bad men is to proclaim to the world that they seek truth, purity, holiness, and godlikeness.

that the rest also may be in fear.—That others may fear to sin. He is a particular character, occupies a higher position, and his punishment for wrong must be rendered accordingly that the warning may spread over the whole congregation, and thus others also may fear.

Verse 21

1 Timothy 5:21

I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.—God is no respecter of persons and holds to stricter accountability those who have the best opportunities and occupy the higher places and demands that his servants shall be guided by the same principles of right and justice. It takes courage to do this. But in the doing of the more difficult duties, God bestows the highest blessings. So he solemnly charges Timothy that he discharge these duties without favor or partiality.

Verse 22

1 Timothy 5:22

Lay hands hastily on no man,—This verse has given rise to much diversity of thought. Some consider it to mean to lay hands on no man, to ordain him as an elder hastily, or without due trial and proof of his fitness. But there is nothing in the context that refers to ordaining elders. To throw in a highly figurative expression on the subject with­out any connecting links to show its meaning is unnatural and harsh, and would lead to great doubt as to the meaning. Others maintain that it refers to laying violent hands on a man. This would indicate that Paul did not think it would be wrong for Timothy to deliberately and with due considera­tion strike a man for wrongdoing. This is so contrary to the whole teaching of Christ and the apostles to be inad­missible. He is speaking of the accusation and trial of elders, and it seems to me that the connection leaves but one possible construction—do not hastily lay hands on an elder to draw him up for trial. Since elders are presumed to be good, true, and faithful men proved by experience, let no accusation be brought against them hastily.

neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.—Do not become partakers of the sins of other men by permit­ting them to bring hasty and unjust accusations against elders, but keep thyself pure from all sinful complications.

Verse 23

1 Timothy 5:23

Be no longer a drinker of water,—Paul now gives Timo­thy some personal directions. Timothy refrained from the use of wine and strong drink. This should be a significant lesson to us. That was an age of wine drinking, yet Timo­thy refrained from its use even when sick, as a matter of Christian purity, and a good example to others.

but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.—He tells him not to go to an extreme in refusing wine as a medicine. Drink no longer water alone, but for the sake of his stomach, which doubtless was weak, and for his often infirmities, use a little wine. Many have quoted this instruction of Paul to justify the use of wine as a beverage. It does no such thing, but the reverse. Timothy, a model and true Christian, a young man trained from childhood in the knowledge of the Scriptures, refuses to use wine at all, even in sickness. Paul tells him to use a little wine for his illness. He encourages its use for no other purpose. Paul laid down the principles that ought to govern all Christians: “Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.” (1 Corinthians 8:13.) And again: “It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.” (Romans 14:21.)

Verse 24

1 Timothy 5:24

Some men’s sins are evident, going before unto judg­ment;—[The wrongdoing of some men is of an open character, seen without any inquiry or proof that is no trouble to ascer­tain and decide upon as to the discipline necessary for their good.]

and some men also they follow after.—[In the case of some their wrongs are secret, hard to find out, and hard to decide as to what ought to be done for their good, and the good of the cause of Christ.]

Verse 25

1 Timothy 5:25

In like manner also there are good works that are evi­dent;—[The same is true of the good deeds of some; they are of so public a character that everyone around them sees and knows them.]

and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.—[Those not good cannot be permanently concealed.]