CHAPTER 5

(A.D. 65)

ELDERS

¹Rebuke not an Elder (does not refer to a Pastor as it usually does, but rather an older person who is mature in both age and experience), but intreat him as a father (appeal to him as if he were your father); and the younger men as Brethren (in Christ, we are family);

²The Elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. (Failure to heed the word purity has caused untold problems and difficulties.)

WIDOWS

³Honour widows who are widows indeed. (Help those financially who are truly widows. There was no Governmental welfare net of any kind in those days.)

⁴But if any widow have children or nephews (should read, children or grandchildren, for thats what the Greek word actually means), let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents (refers to the family bearing the responsibility instead of the Church): for that is good and acceptable before God (portrays this as being Gods Way; each family is responsible for its own members, and should care for each of them accordingly).

⁵Now she who is a widow indeed (truly), and desolate (meaning she has no relatives to help care for her), trusts in God (has her hopes settled permanently on God), and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (This presents an individual who is priceless, and who is most important to the Kingdom of God.)

⁶But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives (portrays the contrast with one totally dedicated to God).

⁷And these things give in charge (give the people these instructions), that they may be blameless (refers to the widows who are maintained by the Church; it is important that the support be reserved for those truly worthy of it).

⁸But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house (presents the Apostle speaking particularly of the duty of children towards a widowed Mother), he has denied the Faith (refers to the fact that if one is truly saved, one will function according to these things laid down by the Holy Spirit through Paul), and is worse than an infidel. (This carries the meaning that even an infidel, which refers to one who has no belief in Christ, abides in many cases by a code that cares for his own.)

⁹Let not a widow be taken into the number (cared for by the Church) under threescore years old (60 years old), having been the wife of one man (not a polygamist, but having been legally married to one man),

¹⁰Well reported of for good works (not a busybody); if she have brought up children (pertains to the idea that she loved children whether she had any of her own or not), if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the Saints feet (hospitable), if she have relieved the afflicted (those in distress), if she have diligently followed every good work (her life portrays this).

¹¹But the younger widows refuse (regarding the widows under 60 years of age, the Church should not be responsible for their upkeep): for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry (insinuates such women were not really intending to totally give themselves to the Cause of Christ, but were only seeking support until they could find a husband);

¹²Having damnation (should have been translated, condemnation), because they have cast off their first faith. (This probably refers to the original impulse of Faith, which led such a lady to join the widows.)

¹³And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house (doing so with no practical purpose or aim in mind, but rather for the purpose of gossip); and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. (It refers to young widows who would pry into the private affairs of others.)

¹⁴I will therefore that the younger women marry (should have been translated, younger widows), bear children (those young enough to do such), guide the house (refers to the management of family affairs, which the wife seems to do better), give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (If it is to be noticed, Pauls practical mind, guided by the Spirit of God, has left us no impossible rules of perfection, but rather injunctions that all, not a few, can obey.)

¹⁵For some are already turned aside after Satan. (They follow the great tempter, rather than the Lord Jesus.)

¹⁶If any man or woman who believes have widows, let them relieve them (places the responsibility of such on the family), and let not the Church be charged (dont put unnecessary responsibility on the Church); that it may relieve them who are widows indeed (refers to those who are in dire need).

PASTORS

¹⁷Let the Elders (Pastors in this case) who rule well be counted worthy of double honour (respect and regard), especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine (Preaching and Teaching; such Pastors are to be deeply appreciated, as should be obvious).

¹⁸For the Scripture says (Deut. 25:4), You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. ([Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14]; in I Cor. 9:9, Paul argued from this Text the right of a Minister to be maintained by those to whom he Ministers.)

¹⁹Against an Elder (Pastor) receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (If the Church were to follow this principle faithfully, no member or Minister would ever become the victim of one vengeful individual. Even if there is only one witness and the Preacher lies about the situation [as some will], it would still be better to adhere to the Word, knowing for certain the Lord will handle the situation. While men may fool other men, no one fools God.)

A SINNING BROTHER

²⁰Them who sin (continues to refer to Preachers, those who are sinning and will not repent) rebuke before all (it is to be done before other Preachers, and not the entire Body of the Church, as the next phrase bears out), that others also may fear. (As stated, refers to other Preachers only, and not the entirety of the Body of the Church.)

TIMOTHY

²¹I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels (presents a Command, and the fact that Heaven is witnessing our actions), that you observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. (This refers to the fact that there must be no prejudice when judgment is rendered, meaning not one way or the other.)

²²Lay hands suddenly on no man (refers to approval; True Repentance will soon bring about True results, and will be obvious), neither be partaker of other mens sins (if a person refuses to repent and approval is given to that person, the Preacher giving the approval then becomes a partaker of the sins being committed): keep yourself pure (which can be done only by understanding that our Faith must ever be in the Cross, which then gives the Holy Spirit the latitude to give us Victory).

²³Drink no longer water (means water exclusively; water was not treated at all in those days, and in many cases and from many sources was impure), but use a little wine for your stomachs sake and your often infirmities. (Evidently Timothys physical constitution was not quite as strong as Pauls. During those days, all grape juice and alcoholic beverage were referred to as wine. It could only be determined by the context as to which it was. We have no way here of knowing, but it was probably grape juice.)

²⁴Some mens sins are open beforehand (should have been translated, openly manifested to all eyes), going before to judgment (meaning judgment in such a case is easy because everything is out in the open); and some men they (the sins) follow after (refers to the fact that some sins are never confessed or repented of, but to be sure will be dealt with at the Judgment; the only answer for sin is the Cross; sinful man can take the Judgment that was placed upon Christ, which was done in our place, or he can face the Judgment; the Cross alone stops the coming Judgment.).

²⁵Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand (presents that which is open and obvious to all); and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. (At the Judgment Seat of Christ, every secret will be made manifest. Every hidden thing will be revealed. All things will then be made clear.)