Our apostle here directs Timothy how to manage rightly that great and important duty of ministerial reproof: if aged persons, elders in age, do transgress, they must be rebuked, not magisterially, but fraternally, with humility and gentleness, according to their years; not with austerity and roughne... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds to give Timothy directions concerning widows, particularly those who were to be maintained by the church's charity, and to live upon it. Note, 1. The persons who were to be relieved and supported by the church's charity: WIDOWS INDEED; that is, such widows as were DESOLATE, bei... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, "If any professing Christianity, and having ability, provides not for his own kindred, but especially FOR THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSE, as parents or children, he liveth so contrary to the Christian faith, that in effect he denies it, AND IS WORSE THAN AN INFIDEL, who ordinarily take care of thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had given directions concerning such widows as were to be maintained by the church's charity in the preceding verses; he speaks now of such widows as were to be admitted into the church's service, under the name of DEACONESSES, whose office it was to take care of the aged and impotent, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Next he tells him what sort of widows he would have him refuse and reject, and by no means admit into the number of deaconesses, or the church's servants; namely, THE YOUNGER WIDOWS, who were not past child-bearing; and therefore WAXING WANTON AGAINST CHRIST, WOULD MARRY; that is, growing weary of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle proceeds next to give Timothy directions concerning elders; not old men in years, but elders in office, such as were employed in the governing of the church, and over and above that service, laboured even unto weariness in preaching of the word, and expounding the Christian doctrine, req... [ Continue Reading ]
These words evidently show, that by HONOUR, in the former verse, is to be understood MAINTENANCE;. place is here cited where the law of Moses forbade the MUZZLING OF THE OX THAT TREADETH OUT THE CORN, Deuteronomy 25:4 but allowed him feeding all the time of working, in like manner, the labour of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle directs Timothy how to proceed in church censures against open offenders: which plainly shows, that there was. right of judging and censuring offenders in Timothy, by virtue of his office. First then he begins to acquaint him with his duty in censuring an elder, and advises him nev... [ Continue Reading ]
A twofold sense and interpretation is given of these words. 1. With reference to ordination, and so they are. caution to the governors of the church to admit none into the sacred function hastily, rashly, without due examination and sufficient trial; to which are added words of great terror, NEITHE... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. There is. lawful use of wine to support nature, not to clog it; to cure infirmities, not to cause them: drink it Timothy might medically, and no doubt for cheerfulness and alacrity, that the body might be more fit and expedite for duty: USE. LITTLE WINE FOR THY STOMACH'S SAKE. Note, 2... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul had just before exhorted Timothy to keep himself pure from other men's sins, whether candidates or penitents: here comes in subsequent advice, in order thereunto: as if our apostle had said, "Timothy, if thou beest diligent to observe, and not over hasty either in ordaining candidates, or a... [ Continue Reading ]