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ToBeLikeHim.com Return to Timothy Series 1 Timothy Series Chapter 5 John Baugh Maintaining a Proper Relationship 1 Timothy 5: 1-25 Honor Widows 1
Do not sharply
rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men
as brothers, 2 the older women
as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are widows
indeed; 4 but if any widow has
children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard
to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is
acceptable in the sight of God. 5
Now she who is
a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and
continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even
while she lives. 7 Prescribe
these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8
But if anyone
does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he
has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than
sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up
children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the
saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted
herself to every good work. 11
But refuse to
put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in
disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside
their previous pledge. 13 At
the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to
house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about
things not proper to mention. 14 Therefore,
I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the
enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for
some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16
If any woman
who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church
must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. Concerning Elders 17
The elders who
rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who
work hard at preaching and teaching. 18
For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS
THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 19
Do not receive
an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who continue in sin,
rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of
sinning. 21
I solemnly
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen
angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit
of partiality. 22 Do not lay
hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins
of others; keep yourself free from sin. 23
No longer drink
water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and
your frequent ailments. 24
The sins of
some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their
sins follow after. 25 Likewise
also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise
cannot be concealed. Older Men, Younger Men, Older Women and Younger
Women 1
Do not sharply
rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men
as brothers, 2 the older women
as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. In the first two verses of what we see as Chapter
5 of Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul offers sound advice to Timothy regarding
how he should look at those to whom he ministers. Considering older men and
women, along with younger men and women, Paul suggests that Timothy consider
them to be family, to see them with the respect given to father, mother,
brother and sister. How we naturally look at others is dependent on
many things, but if we see other believers as family, we start off any
relationship in the proper manner. Considering them to be family will make us
enter into any situation with either parental respect or sibling love. Paul
also reminds Timothy that we need to remember the need for purity (of
thoughts and actions) in any dealings with others, but especially with those
to whom we minister. Care of Widows within the church 3
Honor widows
who are widows indeed; 4 but
if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice
piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents;
for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has
fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to
wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above
reproach. 8 But if anyone does
not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has
denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. It is interesting to remember that one of the
first problems to come up in the church in Apparently, the church in The provisions stated: 1 - She should be a "Real widow" with
no other means of support, including self possessed wealth, job security or
family. Obviously, a widow with enough money to support herself would not
need the help of the church. In this time, women who lose their husbands may
have insurance coverage, independent income, a job that provides income
sufficient to meet their needs or investments that provide a living. IT is
certainly not universal, but at least some women may end up with more money
than men after the death of a spouse, perhaps more financially secure than
they had ever been in marriage. The support of these women should not be the
responsibility of the church in any way. But they are to be honored, as Paul
points out in Verse 3. They are to be paid reverence and respect; they
are to be shown love, compassion and concern to meet their emotional needs.
This is what the church is responsible to do. For women with families, Paul tells Timothy that
it is the responsibility of the family to care for her. Paul tells Timothy
that caring for an elderly parent with no other means of support is
acceptable in the sight of God. It was
also socially acceptable and considered to be the obligation of children in
Greek and Roman society at that time. 2 - The widow who is supported by the church
should be committed to the spiritual ministry of the church. Paul indicates
the widow should be one who "has
fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and
day." Widows who were being helped by the church should be active in
the ministry of the church during the later years of their lives. In the letter to Titus, Paul instructs him to
help the older women learn to teach the younger women and that seems to fit
well into what Paul tells Timothy should be the work of widows in the church
at Some women who find themselves alone after the
death of their husband, with a considerable amount of money, decide to spend
their remaining days traveling around the world, going to bridge parties, and
entertaining herself. Paul states that such women might as well be dead since
they are not investing their lives as God intended. The focus of any life on
self above others is a wasted opportunity for a wonderful ministry. Which Widows are to be put on the list? 9
A widow is to
be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been
the wife of one man, 10 having
a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has
shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she
has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. Here, Paul writes that a widow should be at least
sixty years old. Most people died in their sixties in those days and were
nearing the end of their lives. In Paul's mind, he wanted them to devote
their remaining years in service to the Lord. Secondly, Paul writes that the woman was to be
the wife of one husband. That has confused many people who have taken that to
mean a woman could not be married more than once. Yet husbands died in those
days; women at times were divorced in those days, so a widow could well have
been married two or three times in the course of her lifetime. And in
Verse 14 Paul urges younger widows to marry and bear children, so he
certainly does not mean that if they marry again, when they reached the age
of sixty or more and subsequently lost their husbands they could not qualify.
The requirement stated here is very similar to
the one listed for elders and deacons, when Paul stated that they were to be
a "one-woman man." Here a woman is to be a "one-husband
woman." This does not mean she cannot have been married more than once,
but rather that when she is married her focus is on her husband. She is not a
philanderer; she is not entering relationships in any degree with other men,
but she was faithful to her husband. Then Paul states that she is to be of good
reputation, listing an admirable description of a woman of good reputation: 1 - She has brought up children. Stated
differently, if she had had children, she has brought them up (properly). 2 - She has shown hospitality to strangers. Not
just her friends, but others also. 3 - She has been faithful to Christ's call for
humble service (has washed the saints' feet), showing a willingness to serve
wherever needed. 4 - She has assisted those in distress, including
those who are sick, afflicted, who have suffered loss, etc., showing a
willingness to serve in the ministry of helping others. 5 - She has devoted herself to every good work. Any woman who has met all of the characteristics
of reputation Paul mentions would have proven her value to the church and
would have shown herself to be deserving of support from the church many
times over. Younger Widows 11
But refuse to
put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in
disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside
their previous pledge. 13 At
the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to
house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about
things not proper to mention. Perhaps Paul understood the pressures on a young
woman at that time to have a family, a husband, and children. Perhaps Paul
understood the longing for companionship and life that a younger woman might
have. In Paul's mind, the younger widows should be encouraged to marry
again. In the instructions Paul gives to Timothy, only
those women who had already been married, who had already fulfilled their
obligations and their desires for marriage and family were to be enrolled in
this special order of celibate persons, not younger women. Sometimes, in a moment of grief at the loss of a
husband a young woman might state a desire to remain celibate for the rest of
her life, but Paul was concerned that after a while her desires might change.
What Paul is writing here is that if she does,
then she is led to break her promise to never marry again and he does not
want her to do that. So Paul lists two reasons for not assuming the
responsibility for younger widows: 1 - They would prove unfaithful to their first
pledge, which they made in a moment of deep commitment but were unable to
live up to. 2 - They would tend (over time) to become idle
"freeloaders," as we would call them today. And instead of serving
would "go around from house to
house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about
things not proper to mention." Perhaps Paul had experience with this type of
behavior. We can see it today in the actions portrayed by certain actresses
in Soap Operas - young women with lots of time on their hands going from
place to place, drinking endless cups of coffee, telling all the news of the
neighborhood -- and getting far too involved in other people's business -
becoming much too involved other people's affairs. Paul Offers Advice to Young Widows: 14
Therefore, I
want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the
enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for
some have already turned aside to follow Satan. In Paul's opinion, younger widows need to take up
life again. He writes that in doing this, they will remove the opportunity
for the devil to attack and destroy the Christian church. Women Believers who have Responsibilities to
Widows 16
If any woman who
is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must
not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. Paul finally writes to Timothy that if married
women, had widows on their side of the family who had no one to take care of
them they should do so. Paul writes
that this should take place so that the church would not be burdened, so that
it would be better able to care for the truly needy. Our Responsibility to Widows In his "New Study Bible" commentary, William
Barclay points out that Paul lays a responsibility not only on family members
to take care of the older parents, but on the older parents to be the kind of
people who can live at home with their younger children. There is a dual
responsibility here. Sometimes older parents can be difficult to get along
with (crotchety, grouchy, complaining, and interfering) that it is not
possible for them to live in the home. Scripture allows for adjustment of
these principles to fit the situation; each family must decide for itself.
But basically it is clearly underscored that it is the privilege, indeed the
responsibility of families to take care of their older parents. Dealings With Elders 17
The elders who
rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who
work hard at preaching and teaching. 18
For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS
THRESHING," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." Here, Paul refers to the overseers, those who
minister to the church. Paul says that those who minister well (devote time
to scripture study, preparation, preaching and teaching, be given double
honor. The first consideration is that they be given respect. The second
honor is that they receive remuneration. They are to be paid. Their needs,
their expenses, their salaries are to be paid in order to free them to do the
work of preaching and teaching. If Pastors are occupied fully in this work of
preaching and teaching the Scriptures, so that people understand them, then
they are to be given this double honor. Paul offers scriptural evidence to support this
statement, by going back to the Law, as Moses stated in the book of
Deuteronomy, "You shall not muzzle an ox while he is threshing"
(Deut 25:4). In those days, the threshing of grain was done by
oxen which walked around on the grain to thresh out the sheaves. Oxen used
for this work were not permitted to be muzzled. They were working and
deserved to eat. Paul quotes this same verse in First Corinthians, saying in
that connection, "Does God care for oxen? Is that why he said
that?" "No," Paul says, "he wrote that for us,"
(1 Cor 9:9-10). In Paul's mind, what was appropriate for the Oxen
was appropriate for the overseer. As he worked, so should he be allowed to
feed. Next, Paul uses an interesting statement: and "The laborer is worthy of
his wages." What Paul is saying here is that those who labor
deserve their wages. The interesting thing here is that these words come from
the Book of Luke, Chapter 10, verse 7. This could mean that when Paul wrote
this letter to Timothy, the Letter from Luke to Theophilus had already been
written, and that Paul was already calling it scripture. It could also mean
that these words from Christ were widely known at that time to have been
spoken by the Lord. Accusations against elders 19
Do not receive
an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20 Those who continue in sin,
rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of
sinning. Charges against elders must be supported by more
than one person. That is because elders and pastors are in public view, and
oftentimes they have to say unpleasant things to people. They do not have to
say them unpleasantly, of course. Sometimes people strike back; they try to
get even -- sometimes by slandering or starting rumors. Here, Paul says that
unsubstantiated accusations should not be sufficient for action and that the
church should not entertain a charge against an elder unless it is supported
by two or three witnesses. When a charge is confirmed and the elder repents,
no public action is necessary. But if he persists (that is the next word),
then a public rebuke is required: "As for those who persist in sin,
rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
This mirrors what Jesus said in Matthew 18 -
"If your brother sins against you, go to him and tell him his fault,
between you and him alone; and if he repents, you have gained your
brother," (Matt 18:15). Nothing more need to be said, that settles it.
Then Jesus continues, "If he does not hear you, then take two or three
more and go to him again and try to lay hold of his conscience with their
help. If he does not hear them, then tell it to the church," (Matt
18:16-17). That is a public rebuke -- a difficult but very important thing to
do. A Solemn Charge 21
I solemnly
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen
angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit
of partiality As in any situation, It probably would have been
very easy for Timothy to have shown partiality. He might well have had some
close friends among the leaders of this church at Timothy might well have felt inadequate for the
task that Paul had assigned. Knowing this, Paul summons powerful help for the
young pastor, when he writes, "in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus
and of the elect angels." God the Father is involved. He is at work in
the congregation. He knows what is going on; nothing is hid from his eyes.
Christ Jesus, Lord of the church, head of the body, is present also. Jesus
can work from within. He can touch men's consciences; he can get at their
hearts. And the elect angels are involved, these personages whom the book of
Hebrews tells us are as "ministering spirits sent forth to minister to
those who shall be the heirs of salvation," (Hebrews 1:14). Paul tells
Timothy not to be intimidated. If the situation requires action, then Timothy
is to act -- patiently, lovingly, thoughtfully and carefully -- but he is to
act. 22
Do not lay
hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of
others; keep yourself free from sin. The laying on of hands was the recognition of a
man by the other elders as being chosen of the Lord. It indicates that such
men are the ones whom God has chosen. Paul tells Timothy to be careful, to
not do that hastily. Further, Paul tells Timothy not to ignore sins
and weaknesses he may find in men: "Do not participate in another man's
sin but keep yourself pure." If you suggest a man for eldership, knowing
that there is a weakness or a sin in his life that he is not dealing with,
when he is made an elder you have participated in his sin; you have gone
along with it. The Water and Wine Question Regarding Timothy’s
Health 23
No longer drink
water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and
your frequent ailments. This admonition seems to be out of place, because
Paul suddenly shifts from talking about choosing elders to a personal word to
Timothy. Perhaps as he was writing, Paul was reminded of something
about Timothy that he felt needed correction. Timothy, evidently, was leaning
toward total abstinence from wine. We know there was a lot of public
drunkenness in In much of the church, there is an attitude that
the Christian position about drinking should be one of total abstinence; that
no Christian ought to drink at all. It should be remembered that the
scriptural record clearly states that our Lord drank wine, and so did the
apostles. Here, Paul is evidently warning Timothy about total abstinence,
especially because it was negatively affecting his health. Timothy had not
taken a balanced position. Paul warns him, "For your health's sake,
don't do this." So Paul warns him against drinking the water!
Anyone who as traveled abroad knows that in some countries, the water is not
drinkable. It wrecks havoc with our stomach, or worse. Anyone who has
suffered accidental bad water consumption probably understands what Timothy
was going through. He was suffering from what has been called "the
runs" or some more colorful term to describe a severe intestinal and
bowel difficulty. Paul is warning him to use a little wine to prevent
that. The simple fact is that in many cases, wine prevents stomach upsets,
dysentery, etc. Paul is suggesting to Timothy that he use wine to prevent
this. Good actions and bad; righteousness and sin 24
The sins of
some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their
sins follow after. 25 Likewise
also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise
cannot be concealed. Pastor Ray Stedman offered these words to
describe verses 24-25. "God was at work
in that congregation in But they are not the
only kind, the apostle says. Some men are skillful at hiding sin. They appear
to be very dedicated, committed people, but there is rotten evil in their
hearts all the time. If you get into the habit of electing people to office
or appointing them into some responsible position without giving time to
observe them you will get into trouble. "Time will tell," the
world's proverb says. Let some time go by. God will bring it out. Get close
to them. The closer you get the more obvious their evil will become. But it works the other
way too. Some men appear retiring and quiet, yet they may be very good men.
Such men may make the very best elders. So do not rush men into leadership.
If they have something good going on quietly in their lives, even when these
are not conspicuous, Paul says, they cannot remain hidden. God will bring it
all out if you get close to them. Abraham Lincoln's famous dictum, "You
can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of
the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time," is a
wise word in choosing elders." Copyright © 2008, by ToBeLikeHim Ministries |