DO NOT REBUKE AN OLDER MAN. Because Timothy, as an evangelist (see note on Ephesians 4:11), would have the duty of "rebuking error and correcting faults (2 Timothy 3:16-17)_,"_ Paul tells how this is to be done. The wise leader must treat the people as individuals. Each age and condition needs separ... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW RESPECT FOR WIDOWS. We can identify four types of widows in what Paul writes here. (1) The true widow (1 Timothy 5:5); (2) The widow with children or grandchildren (1 Timothy 5:4); (3) The widow who gives herself _to_ pleasure (1 Timothy 5:6); (4) The _listed_ widow (1 Timothy 5:9). Widows were... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN. In normal family relationships, it is the Lord's will that children and grandchildren take care of their parents and grandparents. See 1 Timothy 5:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS A TRUE WIDOW. She has no children or close relatives at all. See Anna (Luke 2:36-37 and notes).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO GIVES HERSELF TO PLEASURE. Being cut loose from her husband by his death, she is living an unholy life. This means she is spiritually dead, so long as she continues to live this way. It would be the responsibility of the church leaders (who might work through the listed widows) to work to reclai... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE THEM THIS COMMAND. Especially the things said in 1 Timothy 5:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF SOMEONE. The Christian faith includes the law of love! Even unbelievers take care of their own families. [Note that the Essenes were not allowed to help their relatives without special permission from their leaders. But they could help anyone else they pleased. See also the strange custom in... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT ADD. A _listed_ widow meets certain qualifications; is supported directly by the church; and is in a sense the female counterpart of the church leader. She is primarily a teacher, in contrast to the female church helper (1 Timothy 3:11 and note). MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS OLD. This is a special r... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE A REPUTATION. Her past life demonstrates her character and faith. WHO BROUGHT UP HER CHILDREN WELL. Either her natural children, or foster children. This demonstrates her ability. RECEIVED STRANGERS. Shown her attitude and love by helping those made homeless through persecution. WASHED THE FEET... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DO NOT INCLUDE. A younger widow, one under age sixty, must not be made a _listed widow._ See 1 Timothy 5:9. Remember Paul is speaking about those who want to be included in the list of specially privileged church-widows. It is implied that those on the _list_ made a special promise to remain a w... [ Continue Reading ]
BREAKING THEIR FIRST PROMISE. Not because they get married, but because after having made a promise to devote themselves to this teaching mission, they "go back on their promise" by leaving it to get married.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ALSO LEARN. They do not have the maturity required for this teaching mission of going from house to house. For those who have the strength (_gift,_ 1 Corinthians 7:7) to live unmarried in order to give their time and energy to the direct service of God, it is better not to marry again. But ther... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE YOUNGER WIDOWS GET MARRIED. None are to be placed on this list but the aged. There are to be no young nuns. It will be better if the widows under sixty years old get married again. NO CHANCE OF SPEAKING EVIL OF US. Compare 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SOME. This certainly speaks of something worse than a second marriage, and clearly points to such things as mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY WOMAN. This shows that what Paul said in 1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:7-8 applies to women as well as to men. [In this section on widows, Paul has been speaking specifically about widows who are _listed widows,_ who are teachers supported out of the church treasury. Certainly the church can... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ELDERS. This is another name for a church leader. See note on 1 Timothy 3:1. DOUBLE PAY = generous support. AT PREACHING AND TEACHING. Some church leaders (and some church helpers) were also evangelists.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. See note on 1 Corinthians 9:9. Paul also quotes Luke 10:7 and calls it _scripture._ Peter includes Paul's writing in the term _scripture_ (2 Peter 3:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
UNLESS IT IS BROUGHT. As an evangelist, Timothy might be forced to hear accusations against an elder (church leader) who would be older than himself. This is in harmony with 1 Corinthians 6:5. But he is to ignore such things unless two or three reliable witnesses bring this accusation. (This is to p... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKE PUBLICLY. "Those who are found guilty of sin, by the word of reliable witnesses, you are to rebuke in public as a warning to the others, so they may be afraid to commit similar sins." This does not conflict with 1 Timothy 5:1, because it is not treating him _harshly,_ but bringing the thing o... [ Continue Reading ]
I SOLEMNLY CALL UPON YOU. This is a solemn obligation which Paul places on Timothy. He must not "play favorites," but impartially deal with the matters mentioned in this Letter. Some think this implies that Paul was afraid Timothy would be too mild in dealing quickly with the problems which would co... [ Continue Reading ]
TO LAY HANDS ON. No one should be appointed to serve, until he (or she) has been thoroughly examined. A ceremony of "laying on hands" was used to _identify_ those appointed for special service. Compare 1 Timothy 4:14_:_ Acts 13:3. [The congregation did the choosing. See Acts 6:2-3 and notes.]... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT TAKE A LITTLE WINE. Probably the false teachers prohibited the light wines that were then used. Compare notes on 1 Timothy 4:3; Colossians 2:16; John 2:10. This gives some indication of Timothy's state of health. The Expositor's Greek Testament has Paul saying: "I do not mean you to practice a r... [ Continue Reading ]
AN PLAIN TO SEE. This refers back to 1 Timothy 5:22. Since keeping an unfit man in a place of service makes the one who appoints him responsible, in a sense, Timothy may have been very afraid he might make a mistake in such things. "In the case of some, it will be such an "open and shut case," that... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY. "The good deeds of some will be so plain that you will not need to examine them very closely. Their reputations declare what they are. And even the good deeds that are not so plain will _come out_ in time.... [ Continue Reading ]