_An ancient man. [1] Here the word presbyter is not take as in other places, for a bishop or priest, but for an elderly man, who is otherwise to be dealt with than young men. (Witham) --- We cannot sufficiently admire the tenderness and prudence of all this saint's counsels. Reproof, under any circu... [ Continue Reading ]
A just medium must be observed in the guidance of the sex, avoiding equally an indiscreet severity or an affection too tender and bordering on sensuality. A just diffidence in self is the best security. --- _All chastity refers to the heart, eyes, ears, words, looks, with the precautions of times an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Honour widows. To honour, here means to relieve and maintain. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let her [2] learn first, &c. He gives this as a mark to know if widows deserve to be maintained out of the common stock; if they have been careful of their own family, and to assist their parents, if yet alive. In most Greek copies, and in the Syriac, is read, let them learn; i.e. let the children... [ Continue Reading ]
_She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, (destitute of help, as the Greek word implieth) may be maintained; and then let her be constant in prayers and devotions night and day. (Witham) --- Every Christian soul is a widow of Jesus Christ, who has been forcibly torn from her: and in her communicati... [ Continue Reading ]
_For she that liveth in pleasure, (i.e. that seeks to live in ease and plenty) is dead [3] while she is living, by the spiritual death of her soul in sin. See St. John Chrysostom with non less eloquence than piety, expounding this riddle, as he terms it, to wit, what it is to be at the same time ali... [ Continue Reading ]
_He hath denied the faith, (not in words, but in his actions) and is worse than an infidel; nay, even than brutes, that take care of their young ones. (Witham) --- Faith may be renounced either by words or by actions, when our conduct shews that in our hearts we really do not believe what would othe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not under threescore years of age. Some think he speaks only of such a widow as was placed over all the rest: but the common exposition is of all such widows as were maintained in that manner, who made a vow of chastity, who assisted the ministers of the Church in looking to the poor, and in the ad... [ Continue Reading ]
As for the _younger widows, [4] admit them not into that number; for when they have grown wanton in Christ, which may signify in the Church of Christ, or as others translate, against Christ; when they have been nourished in plenty, indulging their appetite in eating and drinking, in company and conv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having, or incurring and making themselves liable to damnation, by a breach of their first faith, their vow or promise, (Witham) by which they had engaged themselves to Christ. (Challoner)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Idle, &c. He shews by what steps they fall. Neglecting their prayers, they give themselves to idleness; they go about visiting from house to house; they are carried away with curiosity to hear what passes, and speak what they ought not of their neighbour's faults. (Witham) --- The young widow that... [ Continue Reading ]
_ The younger [5] (widows) should marry. They who understand this of a command or exhortation to all widows to marry, make St. Paul contradict himself, and the advice he gave to widows 1 Corinthians vii. where he says, (ver. 40.) She (the widow) will be happy if she so remain according to my counsel... [ Continue Reading ]
_For some are already turned aside after Satan, by breaking the vows they had made. "Yet it does not follow, (says St. Augustine in the same place [de Bono viduitatis, chap. viii.]) that they who abstain not from such sins may marry after their vows. They might indeed marry before they vowed; but th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priests, or ancient ministers, (i.e. bishops, priests, &c.) deserve a double honour; i.e. to be more liberally supplied and maintained by the flock, especially when they labour in preaching the word. --- Thou shalt not muzzle, &c. See 1 Corinthians ix. 9. (Witham) --- It is the obligation of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against a priest. The word presbyter[9] is commonly here expounded of bishops and priests; though St. John Chrysostom understands it of men advanced in age. --- Receive not an accusation; i.e. do not sit as judge, nor hearken to such information. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Adversus presbyterum, _Gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them that sin, so as to be public criminals, &c. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Without prejudice [10] for or against any one, not declining to either side, holding the scales of justice equally. (Witham)_ [BIBLIOGRAPHY] Sine præjudicio, _Greek: choris prokrimatos._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Impose not hands lightly upon any man, in promoting him to be a minister of God by the sacrament of orders, unless he be duly qualified. --- Neither in this be partaker of other men's sins, as they make themselves who ordain others rashly. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Some men's sins are manifest, &c. These two verses seem connected with the admonition before given, as to ordaining ministers, some men's sins and evil life being so manifest, that they are certain to be rejected. --- And some men they follow after: they appear not till after a trial and examination... [ Continue Reading ]