1 Timothy 5:1,2

V. THE CARE OF THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH 5:1-6:2

1.

CARE OF YOUNG AND OLD. 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Text 5:1, 2

1 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as father; the younger men as brethren: 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.

Thought Questions 5:1, 2

154.

Is the elder here an older man, or an officer in the church?

155.

Just what is the meaning of the word rebuke?

156.

Why not rebuke an elder if he needs it?

157.

Rebuke is here contrasted with exhort; please explain what is involved.

158.

Are we to look on the older man as a father of the church, or as our own father?

159.

Is the thought of do not rebuke involved in our dealing with the rest of the group in 1 Timothy 5:1-2?

160.

Wouldn-'t the younger men lose their respect for the evangelist if he treated them as his equal? Explain.

161.

How can we develop the capacity to look upon the older women as mothers?

162.

Why mention in all purity in reference to the younger women? Was Timothy tempted in the moral realm?

Paraphrase 5:1, 2

1 When reproof is necessary, do not severely rebuke an old man; but beseech him, as thou wouldest beseech thy father in the like case; and the young men who sin, as if they were thy own brothers.
2 The old women beseech, as if they were mothers to thee, and the young, as if they were thy sisters, observing the strictest chastity in speech and behaviour towards them.

Comment 5:1, 2

1 Timothy 5:1. We move from the needs of Timothy as an individual to the needs of some of the members in the churches where he served. This advice or divine direction is given to help when problems arise. When an old man needs correction, how shall it be done? Do not go after him with hammer and tongs. Because of the age and experience of such a one, the younger man would be tempted to lose patience with him; do not do so. Some grow older and wiser and some only grow older. Regardless of the attitude of the older man, the man of God should treat him with the same respect he would give his own father. The word exhort which is to replace the word rebuke means to bring comfort and encouragement.

How shall Timothy treat the younger men who need correction or help? In the same manner as he would treat his own brother. Treat the older men with respectthe younger men as equals.

1 Timothy 5:2. It would be natural in the light of what has been said about men to now consider the women. Our Lord's attitude toward those with whom He worked must be ours: behold, my mother. and my sisters. (Matthew 12:49). We love the older women as we would our motherthe younger ones as our sisters. Does the little phrase in all purity refer only to proper moral conduct in association with the younger women? It surely has this meaning, but it could refer to the unhypocritical attitude of the man of God in his association will all ages and sex.

Fact Questions 5:1, 2

124.

Why did Paul give Timothy the advice of 1 Timothy 5:1-2? Was Timothy lax in his proper attitude?

125.

Is Paul contradicting himself in 1 Timothy 5:1 and 1 Timothy 5:20, or in 1 Timothy 5:1 and 2 Timothy 4:2? Explain. (The answer is in the meaning of the word rebuke.)

126.

Why would a younger man lose patience with an older man, before he would with a younger man?

127.

Where can we find an example from our Lord in our attitude toward those with whom we work?

128.

How shall the phrase in all purity be applied?