Rebuke not an elder, but intreat _him_ as a father; _and_ the younger men as brethren; Ver. 1. _Rebuke not an elder_] Lash him not with the scourge of the tongue, as a puny boy, μη επιληξης. _Ne plagam inflixeris._ Jerk him not as the pope did Henry IV of France in the person of his ambassador, or... [ Continue Reading ]
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Ver. 2. _With all purity_] Not with some only, but "with all purity," for fear of the worst, εν παση αγνεια : and lest any impure motion therewhile creep into the heart unawares. The souls of ministers should be purer than the sun... [ Continue Reading ]
Honour widows that are widows indeed. Ver. 3. _Honour widows indeed_] That is, such as are widows not by divorce, but by the death of their husbands, and loss of their children; such as was Naomi. Honour them, that is, take them into the college of widows, to be maintained at the Church's charge. I... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Ver. 4. _Let them learn first to show_] Such any one is in truth, as he is at home,Psalms 101:2. The hypocrite's virtues (as that of the S... [ Continue Reading ]
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. Ver. 5. _Trusteth in God_] Whereas while she had a husband and children, she trusted overmuch in them. The αιμαρροουσα sought not to our Saviour till all her money was gone. Zep... [ Continue Reading ]
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Ver. 6. _Is dead while she liveth_] _Cum careat pura mente, cadaver agit._ Pamphilius in Terence saith the like of a light housewife. _Sane hercle homo voluptati obsequens fuit dum vixit._ St Paul's Greek cannot well be rendered but by Teren... [ Continue Reading ]
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. Ver. 7. _And these things give in charge_] Often inculcate and set on with a great deal of vehemence, that religion suffer not.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _But if any provide not_] That they may have Gaius's prosperity, _Mentem sanam in corpore sano:_ though the apostle's meaning here is chiefly as touching bod... [ Continue Reading ]
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Ver. 9. _The wife of one man_] As Anna, Luke 2:36. Such are held to be more modest, to whom the thought of death hath been enough to forbid the banns of second marriage.... [ Continue Reading ]
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. Ver. 10. _Well reported of, &c._] "A good name is better than precious ointment,... [ Continue Reading ]
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Ver. 11. _To wax wanton_] To run away (as pampered palfreys) _a_ with the bit between their teeth, and to play the jades, καταστρηνιαζειν . _ a_ A saddle horse for ordinary riding as distinguishe... [ Continue Reading ]
Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. Ver. 12. _Having damnation_] Or public reproach, as 1 Timothy 5:14, for their desultory lightness and inconsiderate rashness. _ Cast off their first faith_] Not that of their baptism (as various of the Indians do that have been baptiz... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 13. _They learn to be idle_] It is an art soon learned, by doing nothing to do naughtily. _Nihil agendo male agere discunt, _ Idle... [ Continue Reading ]
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Ver. 14. _Give none occasion to the adversary_] The devil or his instruments, whose mouths he often borrows to blaspheme and rail with, who also watch as dilige... [ Continue Reading ]
For some are already turned aside after Satan. Ver. 15. _Turned aside after Satan_] Revolted from Christian religion, going out of God's blessing into the world's warm sun. These could not choose unto themselves a worse condition.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man or 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. Ver. 16. _Have widows_] That are widows indeed, that have neither children nor nephews to relieve them, 1 Timothy 5:3, of whom by the law of nat... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Ver. 17. _Worthy of double honour_] viz. Countenance and maintenance; that they may give themselves continually and cheerfully to preaching and prayer, Acts 6:4. Let them have reve... [ Continue Reading ]
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer _is_ worthy of his reward. Ver. 18. _Thou shalt not muzzle, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ 1Co 9:9 _"_ Worthy of his hire] Of his food,Matthew 10:10; of his wages, as here. Hardest labourers have meat and d... [ Continue Reading ]
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Ver. 19. _Receive not an accusation_] If to be accused were sufficient to make a man guilty, no good minister should be innocent. _Praedicare nihil aliud est quam derivare in se furorem totius mundi, _ saith Luther. Trut... [ Continue Reading ]
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. Ver. 20. _Them that sin_] _i.e._ Those presbyters that sin publicly, scandalously, as did Peter, Galatians 2:14, and those who were convicted by two or three witnesses, as 1 Timothy 5:19. Rebuke before all, yet not as if they were whipping... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 21. _Without preferring one_] Or, without precipitation or prejudice. χωρις προκριματος. _Omne iudicium a se aufert, q... [ Continue Reading ]
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Ver. 22. _Lay hands suddenly on no man_] The best that can come of rashness is repentance. Scipio would not yield that a wise man should ever come in with "had I wist," ουκ ωμην. (Plutarch.) In ordination of m... [ Continue Reading ]
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Ver. 23. _Drink no longer water_] Timothy, living among the luxurious Ephesians, was so abstemious that the apostle is fain to prescribe him physic. Hypocrites will be chaste only in the mountains where... [ Continue Reading ]
Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some _men_ they follow after. Ver. 24. _Some men's sins_] The Judge of the earth keepeth his petty sessions now, letting the law pass upon some few, reserving the rest till the great assizes. Some wicked God punisheth here, lest his... [ Continue Reading ]
Likewise also the good works _of some_ are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. Ver. 25. _Cannot be hid_] As putrid hypocrisy shall be detected (for the name of the wicked must rot), so wronged innocence shall be cleared, as the eclipsed moon wades out of the shadow, and... [ Continue Reading ]