1 Timothy 5:13

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. WITHAL - `at the same time, moreover.' LEARN - usually in a good sense. But these women's 'learning' is idleness, trifling, and busybodies' tattle. WANDERING, [ perierchomenai (G4022)] - 'going about' ostensibly on church duties. FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE - of the church members (2 Timothy 3:6). 'They carry the affairs of this house to that, and of that to this: they tell the affairs of all to all' (Theophylact). TATTLERS, [ fluaroi (G5397), akin to...

13_And not only so, but they grow idle _Nothing is more becoming in women than keeping the house; and hence, among the ancients, a tortoise (94) was the image of a good and respectable mother of a family. But there are many who are diseased with the opposite vice. Nothing delights them more than the liberty of running from one place to another, and especially when, being freed from the burden of a family, they have nothing to do at home. _Tattlers and busybodies _Besides, those widows, under the pretense of the respect due to the public character which they sustained, had more easy access to many persons. This opportunity, obtained through the kindness of the Church, they abused for purposes of “idleness;” and next, as usually happens, from slothfulness sprung curiosity, which is also the mother of talkativeness. Most true is the saying of Horace: “Shun an inquisitive person, for he is a...

9-16 Every one brought into any office in the church, should be free from just censure; and many are proper objects of charity, yet ought not to be employed in public services. Those who would find mercy when they are in distress, must show mercy when they are in prosperity; and those who show most readiness for every good work, are most likely to be faithful in whatever is trusted to them. Those who are idle, very seldom are only idle, they make mischief among neighbours, and sow discord among brethren. All believers are required to relieve those belonging to their families who are destitute, that the church may not be prevented from relieving such as are entirely destitute and friendless....

Verse 13. _AND WITHAL THEY LEARN_ TO BE _IDLE_] They do not love work, and they will not work. _WANDERING ABOUT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE_] Gadding, gossiping; never contented with home; always visiting. _AND NOT ONLY IDLE_] If it went no farther, this would be intolerable; but they are _tattlers_-tale-bearers; whisperers; light, trifling persons; all noise and no work. _BUSYBODIES_] Persons who meddle with the concerns of others; who mind every one's business but their own. _SPEAKING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT._] Lies, slanders, calumnies; backbiting their neighbours, and everywhere sowing the seed of dissension....

AND WITHAL - In addition to the prospect that they may marry again, there are other disadvantages which might follow from such an arrangement, and other evils to be feared which it is desirable to avoid. THEY LEARN TO BE IDLE - That is, if supported by the church, and if without the settled principles which might be expected in those more aged and experienced, it may be feared that they will give themselves up to an indolent life. There would be a security in the age and established habits of these more advanced in life, which there could not be in their case. The apostle does not mean that widows are naturally disposed to be idle, but that in the situation referred to there would be danger of it. WANDERING ABOUT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE - A natural consequence of supposing that they had nothing to do, and a practice not only profitless, but always attended with mi

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 5:1 _Exhort _for _intreat_,_ _A.V.; _and _omitted. REBUKE NOT (μὴ ἐπιπλήξης); only here in the New Testament for the more usual ἐπιτιμάω (2 Timothy 4:2, and frequently in the Gospels) or ἐλέγχω, as Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15; Revelation 3:19, and elsewhere. In classical Greek it expresses a sharp castigation with words. Compare the "patruae verbera linguae" (Hor., 'Od.,' 3.

AND WITHAL THEY LEARN TO BE IDLE,.... Being at ease, and without labour, living at the expense of the church: "wandering about from house to house"; having nothing else to do: such an one is what the Jews z call אלמנה שובבית, "the gadding widow"; who, as the gloss says, "goes about and visits her neighbours continually; and these are they that corrupt the world.'' Of this sort of women must the Jews be understood, when they say a, it is one of the properties of them to be יוצאניות "going out", or gadding abroad, as Dinah did; and that it is another to be דבריות, "talkative", which agrees with what follows: AND NOT ONLY IDLE, BUT TATTLERS ALSO; full of talk, who have always some news to tell, or report to make of the affairs of this, or the other person, or family: AND BUSY BODIES; in the matters of other persons, which do not concern them: SPEAKING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT; w

V. INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Concerning widows (1 Timothy 5:1)_ 2. Concerning elders (1 Timothy 5:17) 3. Responsibility and personal instructions (1 Timothy 5:22) 1 Timothy 5:1 It is not necessary to follow all these instructions in detail and explain their meaning. An elder was not to be rebuked sharply, but to be entreated as a father, and younger men as brethren. Then he speaks of widows. Those who are widows indeed are to be held in honor. Piety was to be shown at home, if they had children. “She that is a widow indeed, and desolate (left alone) trusteth in

WIDOWS. The space devoted to widows indicates the existence of a special difficulty in Asia. Paul gives Timothy definite instructions. (_a)_ Deserving widows really left alone should be maintained from Church funds (1 Timothy 5:3). (_b)_ The funds, however, must not be burdened by widows with descendants or friends capable of assisting. Descendants must make it their first charge to fulfil the family obligation involved. Otherwise they disown the Christian way of life, and acknowledge a standard lower than that of unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16). (_c_) The mark of a true widow is that, avoiding

THE DUTY TO REPRIMAND (1 Timothy 5:1-2)...