“Up to this point in this letter, Paul has been giving instructions on matters that touched Timothy's relationship with the whole congregation. Almost the whole of the remainder of the letter is concerned with specific directions to Timothy to assist him in dealing with various groups and individual... [ Continue Reading ]
“THE OLDER WOMEN AS MOTHERS”: “So when Timothy admonishes the older women, he must deal with them as. loving adult son would deal with his own mother were she erring” _(Reese p. 218)._ 1 TIMOTHY 5:2 “AND THE YOUNGER WOMEN AS SISTERS”: “Paul's mention of father, brothers, mothers, sisters, shows tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CARE OF WIDOWS 1 Timothy 5:3 “Honor”: To revere, venerate, and in this context, “honor” includes not only respect, but also financial support (Matthew 15:4). God had equally stressed care for widows in the Old Testament as well (Exodus 2:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 27:19; Deuteronomy 14:2... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT IF ANY WIDOW HAS CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN”: “When the King James Version was translated the word ‘nephews' meant grandchildren, but that meaning has now become obsolete. The Greek word means ‘sprung from one', that is, offspring or descendants” _(Hiebert p. 92). _ 1 TIMOTHY 5:4 “THEY MUST FI... [ Continue Reading ]
“NOW SHE WHO IS. WIDOW INDEED AND WHO HAS BEEN LEFT ALONE”: This is. widow, in contrast to the widow who has family, who is completely alone. She is entirely alone, without husband, children, grandchildren, or other close kin. 1 TIMOTHY 5:5 “HAS FIXED HER HOPE ON GOD”: That is, she continues to kee... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT SHE WHO GIVES HERSELF TO WANTON PLEASURE”: The root meaning of the phrase “wanton pleasure” means “riotous and luxurious living”. This widow does not live for God; rather she lives for herself and pleasure. 1 TIMOTHY 5:6 “IS DEAD EVEN WHILE SHE LIVES”: That is, she is spiritual dead though she... [ Continue Reading ]
“PRESCRIBE THESE THINGS AS WELL”: That is, command, charge, and order that Christians practice these truths. The preacher needs to remember to preach God's word with authority; these are not optional matters or opinion. 1 TIMOTHY 5:7 “SO THAT THEY MAY BE ABOVE REPROACH”: The term “they” refers to th... [ Continue Reading ]
“IF ANYONE DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN”: The term “provide” means to “take thought for, think of beforehand”. That is, providing for one's own means, making plans now for the future care of our parents when they become aged. “It is. Christian duty thus to foresee and to provide for one's dependents... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR WIDOWS TO BE ENROLLED 1 Timothy 5:9 “A widow is to be put on the list only if”: The expression “put on the list” means “to set down on. list, to register, to enroll” _(Thayer p. 333)._ Used only here in the New Testament, it is the regular classical word for enrolling enlisti... [ Continue Reading ]
“HAVING. REPUTATION FOR GOOD WORKS”: “Approved, well attested in good deeds” _(Arndt p. 493)._ This phrase denotes all kinds of good works rather than merely good intentions. Good works are the mark of. faithful Christian (Matthew 5:16; Titus 3:1; Ephesians 2:10). 1 TIMOTHY 5:10 “IF SHE HAS BROUGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
“But refuse to put younger widows on the list”: NO WIDOW WAS TO BE PLACED ON THE ROLL FOR PERMANENT SUPPORT, EVEN IF SHE WAS COMPLETELY WITHOUT HUSBAND OR CHILDREN. 1 Timothy 5:11 “For”: THE REASON FOR THE REJECTION OR THE WISDOM BEHIND THIS VERSE. 1 Timothy 5:11 “When they feel sensual desires”:... [ Continue Reading ]
“THUS INCURRING CONDEMNATION”: Which is explained in the next phrase. 1 TIMOTHY 5:12 “BECAUSE THEY HAVE SET ASIDE THEIR PREVIOUS PLEDGE”: By enrolling the young widow into. place. permanent support the church would be really helping her to lose her soul. The term “set aside” is often used of disreg... [ Continue Reading ]
“AT THE SAME TIME”: Another problem. 1 TIMOTHY 5:13 “THEY ALSO LEARN TO BE”: To be fully supported by the congregation without the need to work, would place the younger widow in. place of temptation. Notice, not working is not. good thing. Idleness, too much free time, financial freedom from workin... [ Continue Reading ]
“THEREFORE”: In view of these pitfalls. 1 TIMOTHY 5:14 “I WANT YOUNGER WIDOWS TO GET MARRIED”: The very fact that they married the first time indicates that they will have sexual desires. These are not women who like some men have. gift to live. single life (1 Corinthians 7:7). 1 TIMOTHY 5:14 “BEA... [ Continue Reading ]
“FOR SOME HAVE ALREADY TURNED ASIDE TO FOLLOW SATAN”: The term “some” generally is interpreted to mean “some widows”. It could be that Paul has in mind certain contemporary examples of such reproachful behavior. In the context, to follow Satan means that some younger widows had already become busyb... [ Continue Reading ]
“IF ANY WOMAN WHO IS. BELIEVER HAS DEPENDENT WIDOWS”: The KJV here has “any man or woman”. The “woman” could be mentioned here exclusively because she would be the household manager and she would be the one taking care of such widows on. daily basis (1 Timothy 5:14). 1 TIMOTHY 5:16 “SHE MUST ASSIST... [ Continue Reading ]
“The qualifications for overseers or elders were given in chapter 3. Now Paul sets forth to Timothy the way these elders were to be treated by the congregation. It was Timothy's responsibility to see that these matters were carried out” _(Kent p. 181). _ 1 TIMOTHY 5:17 “THE ELDERS”: Here the term... [ Continue Reading ]
“FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS”: The first Scripture cited is Deuteronomy 25:4 “Thou shall not muzzle the ox while He is threshing”. Threshing was sometimes done by having the grain trampled under foot by horses or oxen. This is still. common mode in the East. The cattle were driven over the grain, treadin... [ Continue Reading ]
“DO NOT RECEIVE”: That is accept or admit with approval. Do not acknowledge, give ear to, or even entertain. 1 TIMOTHY 5:19 “AN ACCUSATION AGAINST AN ELDER”: The preacher's responsibility toward the elders includes more than just seeing to it that they are honored. The preacher is also to be very ca... [ Continue Reading ]
1 TIMOTHY 5:20 “THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN SIN”: This demonstrates that the safeguard in the previous verse was not designed to protect unfaithful elders. The expression “continue in sin” either means that the elder is still active in the sin of which he is accused or the guilt of. past sin has clearly b... [ Continue Reading ]
“I SOLEMNLY CHARGE YOU”: To command earnestly, to bear. solemn witness (2 Timothy 2:14; 2 Timothy 4:1). “Fully aware of the awful responsibility of the judicial functions laid upon Timothy, Paul with great solemnity charges him to exercise judgment with complete impartiality” _(Hiebert p. 103)._ “It... [ Continue Reading ]
“DO NOT LAY HANDS UPON ANYONE TOO HASTILY”: The idea here is to lay hands upon. person for the purpose of public recognition. In the context, this could mean either, do not be rash in bringing charges against an elder or do not be rash in appointing men to the office of an elder. Often the expressio... [ Continue Reading ]
“NO LONGER DRINK WATER EXCLUSIVELY”: Contrary to the claims of some writers, everyone in the First Century was not drinking wine as the only available beverage and there was water that was pure and clean to drink. Note that Timothy did not drink wine socially or as. beverage. 1 TIMOTHY 5:23 “USE. L... [ Continue Reading ]
“THE SINS OF SOME MEN ARE QUITE EVIDENT, GOING BEFORE THEM TO JUDGMENT”: The term “evident” means “open, manifest, known to all”. In the context, the “sins” under consideration may be specifically the sins of elders (1 Timothy 5:20), yet the principle in this verse would apply to all men. “Paul expl... [ Continue Reading ]
“LIKEWISE ALSO”: The same principle also applies to good deeds. 1 TIMOTHY 5:25 “DEEDS THAT ARE GOOD ARE QUITE EVIDENT, AND THOSE WHICH ARE OTHERWISE CANNOT BE CONCEALED”: The term “otherwise” in this verse means of the same quality, that is good works, but good works are not that evident. This is a... [ Continue Reading ]