1 Timothy 5:1

Widows, Elders and Slaves

1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,

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1 Timothy 5:1 in Other Translations

KJV

1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

NLT

1 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.

MSG

1 Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers.

CSB

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

1 Timothy 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 1. Rebuke not an elder
By whom is meant, not an elder1 Timothy 5:2

The elder women as mothers
When they offend in any point, they are to be reasoned, and argued, and pleaded with, as children should with their mothers; see ( Hosea 2:2 ) and are to be considered as mothers in Israel, and to be treated with great tenderness and respect. The younger as sisters;
using the freedom as a brother may with a sister; and considering them as sisters in Christ, and in a way becoming the relation, tell them their faults freely and privately, but with all purity:
in such manner as to preserve chastity in looks, in words, and actions.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 Timothy 5:1 In-Context

1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,

2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

Cross References 3

1. Titus 2:2
2. Leviticus 19:32
3. Titus 2:6