Bible Commentaries
1 Timothy 5

Verse 1

1. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.

1. Rebuke - When is "rebuke" a proper action to take? Why is rebuke here forbidden when other passages command us to rebuke? ( 2Ti_3:16 ; 2Ti_4:2 )

2. Elder - Does this verse refer to the office of the eldership or just to older men in the church? What does this passage teach about respect for senior citizens?

3. Entreat - How should we make use of the wisdom and experience of our elderly? How can we "entreat" them?

4. Brethren - Is it proper to refer to a male Christian as "Brother Jones"? Does this become a religious title? What is implied in the term brother? How does this describe the relationship we have in the church?

Verse 2

2. The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

1. Women - Does this verse teach that there can be female elders? Who are the women mentioned here? How can the church make the best use of older women in the congregation?

2. Sisters - Is this a description or a title?

3. Purity - Can we be pure? What is the meaning of this word? List some ways we can become impure.

Verse 3

3. Honor widows that are widows indeed.

1. Widows - Who is a widow? Is a woman who is deserted by her husband a widow? Is a divorced woman a widow?

2. Indeed - Is there a difference between a widow and a widow indeed? How can one be a widow and not be a widow indeed?

Verse 4

4. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

1. Nephews - Compare other translations on this term. Who has the first responsibility to care for widows? Who is second in the chain of responsibility?

2. Piety - How do we show piety? Is there a right and wrong way to show piety?

3. Requite - What does this word mean? How can we requite our parents?

Verse 5

5. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

1. Desolate - How would a widow be desolate? What is the difference in a widow with family (children or grandchildren) and a widow indeed?

2. Supplications - What are supplications? What is the difference in prayers and supplications?

Verse 6

6. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

1. Pleasure - How does pleasure differ from the widow described in the previous verse? Is pleasure wrong? Is it sinful to have pleasure in life?

2. Dead - If she is still alive, how can she be dead?

Verse 7

7. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

1. Charge - What is a charge? What is the difference in a charge and a commandment?

2. Blameless - Who is to be charged? Who should be blameless? With what sin might they be charged?

Verse 8

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.

1. Provide - List the things which a man MUST provide for his family. List some things that are NOT required to be provided.

2. His own - Who are included in this term? Does this include in-laws?

3. House - Who are covered by this word?

4. Faith - What is the faith mentioned in this verse? Does this mean the person has stopped believing in God? How does one "deny" their faith?

5. Worse - Are some sins worse than others? Are there degrees to sin?

6. Infidel - What is an infidel? How can a Christian, believer, be an infidel?

Verse 9

9. Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,

1. Number - Does this verse teach that a widow younger than 60 can not be a member of the local congregation? How is a widow "taken into the number"?

2. Threescore - What about a widow who Isa_59:1-21 year old? Why is a difference made between younger and older widows?

3. Wife - Can the church care for a widow who has never been married? What if she scripturally divorced her first husband and married again? What if her first husband died, she married a second time, and he also died?

Verse 10

10. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed saints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

1. Reported - Who makes out this report? What should be reported?

2. Works - List some things that would be considered "good" works?

3. Children - This term raises the same issues as the qualification for an elder in chapter 3. Discuss - Plural, a widow with no children, adopted children, children who are not faithful Christians.

4. Strangers - Who are strangers? Is this requirement obsolete? Why don't we lodge strangers in our homes today?

5. Washed - What is the importance of this qualification? Are there any widows in the church today that qualify in this area? Should "foot washing" be a part of our worship activity?

6. Afflicted - Make a list of people who are afflicted. Are there afflicted people in the church today? How can we relieve their affliction?

7. Diligently - What are the characteristics of diligence? If one person is diligent and another is not, what would you look for to tell the difference?

Verse 11

11. But younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;

1. Refuse - What services must the church refuse to give to a widow because they are younger than 60? Are there other factors, besides age, that must be considered?

2. Wax wanton - What is "lasciviousness"? Why would younger widows become wanton when older widows would not?

3. Marry - What is wrong with a young widow getting married? Is remarriage forbidden to widows? ( Rom_7:1-3 ; 1Co_7:39 )

Verse 12

12. Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

1. Damnation - Is there a real place of damnation? Is Hell a place of real fire? Is this a place of darkness? How long will Hell last?

2. First faith - How does a young widow who marries again cast off her faith? Can a young widow remarry and NOT cast off her faith? What is the importance of "first" faith? How many faiths are there?

Verse 13

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.

1. Idle - Make a list of idle things. How can you tell if your thoughts are idle or not? Is idleness a problem in the church today?

2. Tattlers - Describe a tattler. What is the difference in tattlers and gossips?

3. Busybodies - What is a busybody? What is the difference in a busy-body and a gossip?

4. Ought not - Write down some types of things which the Christian "ought not" to speak about.

Verse 14

14. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

1. Bear children - Is bearing children a command from God? Can a woman go to heaven if she has not had any children?

2. Guide - What does it mean to guide the house? Does this conflict with the man as head of the house? List some things a woman is to do as she guides the house.

Verse 15

15. For some are already turned aside after Satan.

1. Turned - List some ways we can turn aside to follow Satan. How do we turn aside?

2. Satan - Who is Satan? Is Satan real? Is Satan just a representative of all that is evil in our world?

Verse 16

16. If any man of 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.

1. Believeth - How do you distinguish believers from others? Does the church have any responsibility to help non-believing widows?

2. Charged - Who is the church charged with helping? What does the word "charged" in this verse mean?

3. Relieved - What do widows need? What can the church do to relieve the widows?

Verse 17

17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

1. Elders - Does the word refer to older people in the congregation or to the office of the elder?

2. Rule - Do elders rule? Do they have authority? Are elders to be dictators with full power to tell everyone else what to do? Is there a limitation to their authority?

3. Double Honor - What is the double honor? In addition to respect for the office and work of the elder, what can we do? Should elders be paid by the church for the work they do?

4. Word, Doctrine - Can an elder also be the preacher? Can the preacher be appointed as an elder?

Verse 18

18. For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.

1. Muzzle - Where does the Bible make this statement? What is the application of a farm animal to the office of an elder?

2. Worthy - How much should they be paid? Why are few elders paid by the church? Is there a danger in elders being paid?

Verse 19

19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

1. Accusation - Do members have right to "gripe" about some decision of the elders? Can they voice their opinion about them? doe sthis verse have reference to the decisions they make or to their character?

2. Witnesses - Is it OK to accuse an elder if there are four people present listening to you? How can you stop someone from making accusations?

Verse 20

20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others may also fear.

1. Sin - Do elders sin? Is an elder's sin worse than the same sin done by other? List some sins that should bring such an accusation against an elder?

2. Rebuke - How are we to rebuke an elder? Is this a formal meeting of the church when charges are read and witnesses are heard? Is the church to be "judge and jury" when an elder sins?

3. Fear - Why would others fear? Is there a different process for dealing with an elder who sins and any other member who sins?

Verse 21

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.

1. Angels - Why are angels included in this charge? What are the duties of angels? How are angels involved in church matters?

2. Preferring - What does this word prohibit? Are there classes, levels or groups in the church that should be treated differently from others? Should all be treated exactly the same?

3. Partiality - What is wrong with partiality? Is partiality a sin? (See Jam_2:8-9 .)

Verse 22

22. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

1. Lay hands - List some ways this term is used in the New Testament. Why would we "lay hands" on any one at any time?

2. Partaker - How can we partake in the sins of others? Does this verse refer to "guilt by association"? Can you be a friend to a sinner and not partake in their sins?

3. Pure - What is to be kept pure? Is it possible to remain pure? List some ways people are not pure.

Verse 23

23. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

1. Water - Why should we not drink water? Does this verse prohibit the drinking of water?

2. Wine - What does this word mean today? What does the original term mean as it is used in the Bible? Does this word always mean a drink with alcohol? Can there be wine that does not contain alcohol?

3. Infirmities - Does this passage allow the use of alcohol in medicine? Is it wrong to use a cough syrup with alcohol in it?

Verse 24

24. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

1. Open - List some open sins. In what sense are sins open? Is there a difference in the punishment for open sins and other sins? Is there a difference in the impact on others?

2. Follow - How do sins follow after a person? List some sins that would follow after a person.

Verse 25

25. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1. Manifest - How are our good works manifest? List some good works that are manifest. List some good works that are NOT manifest.

2. Hid - Can our good works be hidden? Why or why not? Did Jesus try to "hide" some of his good works?