1 Timothy 5

SUMMARY.--Rules for Reproving. Honoring Widows. How They Should be Supported. Who are to be Taken into the Number of Widows. The Younger Widows. The Presbyters. A Charge Concerning Timothy's Death.

      1, 2. Rebuke not an elder. An aged man. Treat him with deference due to age. It is evident from the four classes named together, the young men, aged women, and the young women, that the reference in the word "elder" is not to office, but to age.

      3, 4. Honor widows that are widows indeed. In the church at Jerusalem the widows were honored with support ( Acts 6:1 ). The teaching of Paul here seems to place widows who were above sixty years old, and without children or grandchildren to support them, in a class of church widows devoted to the work of the church, and supported out of its funds. Such were "widows indeed." 4. But if any widow hath children or nephews. These must support them, and thus "show piety at home." Nephews is better rendered "grandchildren."

      5-8. She that is a widow indeed. Has neither husband nor children, and is left desolate. Having no earthly trust, she trusteth in God, and shows this by her devout life. 6. She that liveth in pleasure. The widow that plays the wanton is dead spiritually. 7. These things give in charge. Insist upon these things. 8. If any provide not for his own. The support of his relatives and servants is referred to. Children and grandchildren must support their aged parents. Any one who does not provide for his own family, whether it be wife and children, or aged parents, has practically denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever, for even unbelievers do these things.

      9, 10. Let not a widow be taken. Into the order of widows supported by the church and engaged in its work. Under threescore. None but the aged. Having been the wife of one man. Not having had more than one husband living at the same time, as was very common in those days of easy divorce. 10. Well reported of. Good character was a requisite. Good works. The good works are named. Brought up children. Either her own, or orphans or neglected children. Lodged strangers. The duty of hospitality is often urged. Often, in that age, saints were made homeless by persecution. Washed the saints' feet. A duty of hospitality, not a church ordinance. Relieved the afflicted. A ministering angel.

      11-16. The younger widows refuse. Do not take them into this number for the reason that they in part will wish to marry again. 12. Having damnation. Not because they marry, but because after entering a class consecrated entirely to church work, they forsake its duties in order to marry. 13. Withal, they learn to be idle. They have not that gravity which is required for this work of visitation and ministration laid upon the "widows indeed," but wander from house to house to gossip. 14. I will, therefore, that the younger women marry. None are to enter upon this consecrated life but the aged; there are to be no young nuns. The apostle distinctly forbids the conventual system which now exists in the Romish church. 16. If any . . . that believeth have widows. If any have widows among their relatives, let them support these, instead of the church, in order that the church may support the "widows indeed."