1 Timothy 5 (NIV)
Widows, Elders and Slaves
5 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.
In this chapter of 1st Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy, due to his young age, on how to uplift or correct Widows, Elders and Slaves!
In verses 1&2 Paul says … do not rebuke an Older man, but exhort him as if he were your father! To rebuke means to correct harshly without respect, where as to exhort him means to urge or advise with urgent counsel, in a loving, respectful way.
An older man is expected to be one with wisdom and respect, and Paul is saying to treat him as if he were his father. Respect must be paid to the dignity of years and place.
Younger men are of equal age and mindsets to Timothy, and are to be treated as if they were his brothers, and likewise to the women.
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. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Honor (to give proper recognition to) widows that are widows indeed, desolate and alone, – relieve them, and maintain them. It is the duty of children, if their parents are in need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to the utmost of their power.
Widowhood is a desolate state, especially if they have no children or family to take care of them; but let widows trust in the Lord, and continue in prayer. Paul further instructs him that, all who live in pleasure, are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins.
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Widows of older age were placed on a list to be taken care of by the church. Younger widows who were able to work and provide for themselves, so do so until the age where they need assistance from the church.
11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
Paul is warning Timothy, that the widows should maintain the Godly Christian lifestyle, regardless of age of widowhood, and to be cautious of the fact that satan may tempt them into a life of either sexual sin or of being lazy and relying on other peoples hospitality or from becoming gossips!
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Care must be taken that ministers are maintained. And those who are laborious in this work are worthy of double honor and esteem. It is their just due, as much as the reward of the laborer. The apostle Paul, charges Timothy solemnly to guard against partiality. We have great need to watch at all times, that we do not partake of other men’s sins.
23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
The apostle Paul, also urges Timothy to take care of his health. As we are not to make our bodies masters, nor slaves; but to use them so that they may be most helpful to us in the service of God. Yes in this scripture Paul really means wine, real wine, not grape juice! Wine has been known to settle an upset stomach, and Paul knowing the stress that Timothy was going through, knew that the wine would help him and prevent him from getting sick. God wants us healthy and able to do His work, until He choose to take us home.
24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
There are secret sins, and there are open sins: some men’s sins are open before-hand, and going before unto judgment; some they follow after.
God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make known the counsels of all hearts. Looking forward to the judgment-day, let us all attend to our proper offices, whether in higher or lower stations, studying that the name and doctrine of God may never be blasphemed on our account.
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