The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy Chapter Five
1 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brethren,
2 The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness.
3 Honor widows, which are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews let them learn first to show godliness toward their own house, and to recompense their kindred: for that is an honest thing, and acceptable before God.
5 And she that is a widow indeed and left alone, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead, while she liveth.
7 These things therefore warn them of, that they may be blameless.
8 If there be any that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, he denieth the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, that hath been the wife of one husband.
10 And well reported of for good works: if she have nourished her children, if she have lodged the strangers, if she have washed the Saints’ feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto every good work.
11 But refuse the younger widows: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry.
12 Having damnation, because they have broken the first faith.
13 And likewise also being idle they learn to go about from house to house: yea they are not only idle, but also prattlers and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, and bear children, and govern the house, and give none occasion to the adversary to speak evil.
15 For certain are already turned back after Satan.
16 If any faithful man or faithful woman have widows, let them minister unto them, and let not the Church be charged, that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
17 The Elders that rule well, let them be had in double honor, specially they which labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The laborer is worthy of his wages.
19 Against an Elder receive none accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
20 Them that sin, rebuke openly, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring one to another, and do nothing partially.
22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; keep thyself pure.
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities.
24 Some men’s sins are open before hand, and go before unto judgment: but some men’s follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works are manifest before hand, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.
Editor’s thoughts:
Verses 1-2, 17, 19
It is opined here, that these verses can be related in so far as they speak of mostly older men, for such was the hierarchy and mindset of the church at that time. However, it is evident that he likewise makes provisions for women but as the lesser vessel. (See 1 Peter 3:7)
“Verses 1-2 Here the apostle gives rules to Timothy, and in him to other ministers, in reproving. Ministers are reprovers by the office; it is a part, though the least pleasing part, of their office; they are to preach the word, to reprove and rebuke, (Read 2 Timothy 4:2). A great difference is to be made in our reproofs, according to the age, quality, and other circumstances, of the persons rebuked; thus, and elder in age or office must be entreated as a father; on some have compassion, making a difference, (Read Jude. 22). Now the rule is; First, to be very tender in rebuking elders—elders in age, elders by an office. Respect must be had to the dignity of their years and place, and therefore they must not be rebuked sharply nor magisterially; but Timothy himself, though an evangelist, must entreat them as fathers, for this would be the likeliest way to work upon them, and to win upon them. Secondly, the younger must be rebuked as brethren, with love and tenderness; not as desirous, to spy faults or pick quarrels, but as being willing to make the best of them. There is need of a great deal of meekness in reproving those who deserve reproof. Third, the elder women must be reproved, when there is occasion, as mothers. (Read Hosea 2:2) Plead with your mother, plead. Finally, the younger women must be reproved, but reproved as sisters, with all purity. If Timothy, so mortified a man to this world and to the flesh and lusts of it, had need of such a caution as this, much more have we.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor (that is, of double maintenance, double to what they have had, or to what others have), especially those who labor in the word and doctrine, those who are more laborious than others. Observe, The Presbytery ruled, and the same that ruled were those who labored in the word and doctrine: they had not one to preach to them and another to rule them, but the work was done by one and the same person. Some have imagined that by the elders that rule well the apostle means lay-elders, who were employed in ruling but not in teaching, who were concerned in church-government, but did not meddle with the administration of the word and sacraments; and I confess this is the plainest text of scripture that can be found to countenance such an opinion. But it seems a little strange that mere ruling elders should be accounted worthy of double honour, when the apostle preferred preaching to baptizing, and much more would he prefer it to ruling the church; and it is more strange that the apostle should take no notice of them when he treats of church-officers; but, as it is hinted before, they had not, in the primitive church, one to preach to them and another to rule them, but ruling and teaching were performed by the same persons, only some might labour more in the word and doctrine than others.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Here is the scripture-method of proceeding against an elder, when accused of any crime. Observe: There must be an accusation; it must not be a flying uncertain report, but an accusation, containing a certain charge, must be drawn up. Further, He is not to be proceeded against by way of enquiry; this is according to the modern practice of the Inquisition, which draws up articles for men to purge themselves of such crimes, or else to accuse themselves; but, according to the advice of Paul, there must be an accusation brought against an elder. This accusation is not to be received unless supported by two or three credible witnesses, and the accusation must be received before them, that is, the accused must have the accusers face to face, because the reputation of a minister is, in a particular manner, a tender thing; and therefore, before anything be done in the least to blemish that reputation, great care should be taken that the thing alleged against him be well proved, that he be not reproached upon an uncertain surmise.”
Matthew Henry - Theologian
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