1 Timothy 5 - Introduction

Analysis Of The Chapter

This chapter 1 Timothy 5 embraces the following subjects:

(1) The proper method of admonition when others err - to wit, an aged man should be entreated as a father, younger men as brethren, the aged women as mothers, and the younger with the pure feelings which one has for a sister; 1 Timothy 5:1.

(2) Instructions respecting the proper treatment of widows; 1 Timothy 5:3.

(a) Those who were true widows were to be regarded with honor and respect.

(b) Who sustained this character; 1 Timothy 5:4. Those who had evinced piety at home in taking charge of those who were dependent on them, and who were steady in their devotions. No one was to be received into this number who was not of the age of sixty, who had been married to more than one man, and who had not given evidence in all the duties of domestic fidelity and charity, that she was imbued with the spirit of religion; 1 Timothy 5:9.

(c) Those who were young were not to be admitted into this class; 1 Timothy 5:11. The reasons given are, that they would marry again, or that they would be idle, and would be intermeddlers in the affairs of others. It was better, therefore, that they should marry, and have charge of a family of their own; 1 Timothy 5:14.

(d) The duty of the individual members of the church to sustain helpless and dependent widows, if they had such among their relations; 1 Timothy 5:16. In these verses 1 Timothy 5:3 it is evident that the apostle had his eye on a class of widows that sustained some such relation to other females as the elders did to the whole church. They were aged women to whom was entrusted the superintendence of the females of the church - probably because from the customs then prevalent, men had much less liberty of access to the other sex, and much less freedom of contact was allowable, than now.

(3) The duty of supporting and honoring those who ruled in the church; 1 Timothy 5:17.

(4) The suitable guarding of the rights of the elders in the church. No accusation was to be received, unless it was sustained by two or three witnesses; 1 Timothy 5:19.

(5) No one who was guilty was to be spared. All who sinned were to be publicly rebuked; 1 Timothy 5:20

(6) A solemn charge is given to Timothy to keep these commandments; 1 Timothy 5:21.

(7) The statement of his duty not to ordain any person rashly or hastily to the sacred office; 1 Timothy 5:22.

(8) To guard his health; 1 Timothy 5:23.

(9) A declaration respecting sin - that sometimes it is open beforehand, and sometimes it is concealed until it is revealed at the judgment, closes the chapter; 1 Timothy 5:24. The design of this closing statement seems to be, to show Timothy that he should not judge people by appearances, but that he should evince great caution in forming his estimate of their character.