INTRODUCTION TO I TIMOTHY 5 In this chapter the apostle lays down rules about the manner of rebuking persons, suitable to their several ages; gives directions concerning widows, both old and young; and instructs Timothy how to behave towards elders in office on different accounts. The rules for giv... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKE NOT AN ELDER,.... By whom is meant, not an elder in office, but in age; for elders by office are afterwards spoken of, and particular rules concerning them are given, 1 Timothy 5:17. Besides, an elder is here opposed, not to a private member of a church, but to young men in age; and the apost... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELDER WOMEN AS MOTHERS,.... When they offend in any point, they are to be reasoned, and argued, and pleaded with, as children should with their mothers; see Hosea 2:2 and are to be considered as mothers in Israel, and to be treated with great tenderness and respect. THE YOUNGER AS SISTERS; usin... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOUR WIDOWS THAT ARE WIDOWS INDEED. Who those are, see in 1 Timothy 1:5. The honour to be given them is not a putting of them into the office of a deaconess, in the church; which office, some think, is referred to in Acts 6:1, and did obtain in some of the primitive churches; and it might be that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY WIDOW HAVE CHILDREN OR NEPHEWS,.... Such are not widows indeed; they are not desolate, or alone, or without persons to take care of them; their children or nephews should, and not suffer the church to be burdened with them. Wherefore it follows, LET THEM LEARN FIRST TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SHE THAT IS A WIDOW INDEED,.... A real widow, whom the Jews r call גמורה, "a perfect one", in opposition to one that is divorced, or a brother's widow, that has had the shoe plucked off for her: and such an one as the apostle means, is one that is DESOLATE, or "alone": who has neither husband t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SHE THAT LIVETH IN PLEASURE,.... Voluptuously, and deliciously; lives a wanton, loose, and licentious life, serving divers lusts and pleasures:, IS DEAD WHILE SHE LIVETH; is dead in trespasses and sins, while she lives in them; is dead morally or spiritually, while she lives a natural or corpor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE THINGS GIVE IN CHARGE,.... Concerning rebuking persons of a different age and sex, and concerning the maintenance of widows; and particularly that children provide for their parents when helpless; and that widows trust in God, and give themselves to prayer and supplication, and not live in... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY PROVIDE NOT FOR HIS OWN,.... Not only for his wife and children, but for his parents, when grown old, and cannot help themselves: AND SPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSE; that is, who are of the same household of faith with him; see Galatians 6:10, and so the Syriac version renders it,... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT A WIDOW BE TAKEN INTO THE NUMBER,.... That is, of widows, to be maintained by the church; though some choose to understand these words of the number of such who were made deaconesses, and had the care of the poor widows of the church committed to them; and so the Arabic version renders it, ... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL REPORTED OF FOR GOOD WORKS,.... Both by the members of the church, and by them that were without: PARTICULARLY IF SHE HAVE BROUGHT UP CHILDREN; that is, "well", as the Arabic version adds; in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; commanding them, as Abraham did, to keep the way of the Lord,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE YOUNGER WIDOWS REFUSE,.... To admit them into the number of widows relieved by the church; partly because they are fit for labour, and so can take care of themselves; and partly because they may marry, as the apostle afterwards advises they should, and so would have husbands to take care of... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 12 HAVING DAMNATION, C.] Not for their second marriage, but for their wantonness against Christ, or their sinful and luxurious way of living, contrary to the Gospel of Christ: and this is to be understood not of eternal damnation, which cannot, with propriety, be said to be had now but either o... [ Continue Reading ]
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 n... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL THEREFORE THAT THE YOUNGER WOMEN MARRY,.... Or "the younger" widows rather; and so some copies read; for this is not the apostle's advice to young women in general, though it will suit with them, but with younger widows in particular, of whom he is speaking: BEAR CHILDREN; and bring them for... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SOME ARE ALREADY TURNED ASIDE AFTER SATAN. Meaning some of those younger widows, whom the apostle knew, and had observed to have departed from the faith they first professed, and turned their backs on Christ, and gave themselves up to carnal lusts and pleasures, and an idle and impure life and c... [ Continue Reading ]
IF ANY MAN OR WOMAN THAT BELIEVETH HAVE WIDOWS,.... That is, if any member of a church, whether a brother or a sister, have mothers or grandmothers, or any near relations widows, in mean circumstances, and incapable of taking care of themselves: LET THEM RELIEVE THEM; out of their own substance; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE ELDERS THAT RULE WELL,.... By whom are meant not elders in age; though such ought to be honoured and respected, and to have a proper maintenance either from their children or the church, when reduced, and incapable of helping themselves; but then this is what should be done to all such perso... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 18 FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH,.... In Deuteronomy 25:4 THOU SHALT NOT MUZZLE THE OX THAT TREADETH OUT THE CORN; 1 Corinthians 9:9. 1 Corinthians 9:10. The ox, for its strength and labour, is a fit emblem of a Gospel minister; and its treading the corn out of the husk and ear aptly represents th... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST AN ELDER RECEIVE NOT AN ACCUSATION,.... A charge of any crime: BUT BEFORE TWO OR THREE WITNESSES; good sufficient ones, who are capable of well attesting the fact: a charge against a pastor of a church is not to be easily received; it should not be listened to privately, unless it clearly a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT SIN REBUKE BEFORE ALL,.... This the apostle adds to the above rule, to show that he was far from screening wicked ministers, or elders, guilty of flagitious crimes, and gross enormities: for these words, though they may be applied unto, and may hold good of all offenders, that are members... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE THEE BEFORE GOD,.... Who sees and knows all things, and is a righteous and most impartial Judge; with whom there is no respect of persons, and in whose place and stead, the judges of the earth, both civil and ecclesiastical, stand; and to whom they are accountable for the judgment they pass... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY HANDS SUDDENLY ON NO MAN,.... Which is not to be understood of removing censures from off offenders, upon their repentance, which should not be suddenly and hastily done; and which it seems in later times has been done by imposition of hands; but since no such custom obtained in the apostle's ti... [ Continue Reading ]
DRINK NO LONGER WATER,.... Though it was commendable in him to keep under his body, as the apostle did, by abstemious living, and not pamper the flesh and encourage the lusts of it, and so preserve purity and chastity; yet it was proper that he should take care of his health, that it was not impaire... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME MEN'S SINS ARE OPEN BEFORE HAND,.... Some men are such open and notorious sinners, that there is no need of any inquiry about them, or any examination of them; or any witnesses to be called to their character, in order to pass judgment concerning them; they even prevent and supersede any formal... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE ALSO THE GOOD WORKS [OF SOME] ARE MANIFEST BEFORE HAND,.... The characters of some men, on the other hand, are so fair and bright; and it is so clear a point, that they have received the grace of God in truth; and have a rich furniture for the ministry; and are sound in the doctrine of fait... [ Continue Reading ]