1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:3-16

Here the apostle directs Timothy, 1. How to reprove, ver. 1, 2. 2. Of widows, both elder and younger, ver. 3—17. 3. Of elders, ver. 17—19. 4. Of public reproof, ver. 20. 5. A solemn charge of ordination, ver. 21, 22. 6. Of his health, ver. 23. and of men’s first very different in their effects, ver. 24, 25.

1. Rebuke

2. REBUKE not an elder, but intrest him as a father; and the younger men, as brethren; Vol. II.

3. The elder women, as mothers; the younger, as sisters, with all purity.

v. 1, 2. The apostle proceeds to give him farther directions concerning the needful, though less pleading, work of rebuke. Ministers are reprovers by office, and must be faithful to this truth.

Rebuke not an elder, in years or office, if ought be found in him which demands censure, with a magisterial air, or unbecoming severity; but, with respect to his venerable years, intrest him as a father to remove the cause of offence: and the younger men as brethren; with all freedom, yet withal in love and metakneis: the elder women, as matters, with due respect; the younger, as sisters, with all purity; avoiding every thought, word, look, or gesture, that hath the most distant tendency to evil.

3. Honour widows: that are widows indeed. 4. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5. Now: the first is a widow indeed, and defiance, trutheth in God, and: continueth in supplications and prayers: might and day. 6. But she: that liveth: in pleasure, is icad while the liveth. 7. And these things give in charge, that they may be blamelels. 8. But: if any provoke not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is words than an infidel. 9. Let not a widow be taken into the number under therefore years old, having been the wife of one man. 10. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the faints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12. Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tatters also and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14. I will therefore: that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15. For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them: that are widows indeed.

The apostle particularly directs Timothy how to behave in the case of widows who applied to be assisted out of the church’s flock, and to be employed in pious offices under the direction of the deacons.

1. Honour widows that are widows indeed, really in distress, in need of assistance, and deserving to be placed on the church’s list; and these he describes, v. 5. Now she that is a widow indeed, and defiance, without any friends to support her, testifieth in God, who is the friend of the friendless; and they who cast their case upon him shall not be destitute: and such a one untrutheth in supplications and prayers might and day; depending upon the Lord’s providential help, and shewing her undisfembled piety. But she that liveth in pleasures, gayly, idly, and voluptuously, is dead while she liveth; dead to God and godliness, and in no wise to be received of the church, or supported from the common flock. And these things give in charge, that they may be blamelels, and that no just offences may call for rebuke or censure. Now, A life of carnal pleasures is a State of real death: the soul there lies intombed in flesh, and such a person is really a living repulsive.

2. If any widows have near relations capable of providing for them, the church ought not to be burdened with their maintainance. If any widows have children or nephews, or grandchildren, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents, by taking all care of them when labouring under age and infirmities; for that is good and acceptable before God; their bounden duty, and agreeable to his holy will. But if any, who makes provision of the Christian name, refuse that assistance, which in such a case he is bound to afford, and provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, his aged parents, next to his wife and children, claiming a title to a maintainance, as parts of that family which depend on him for a provision, he hath denied the faith, by such a conduct, and is worse than an infidel: even the very heathen will rise up to condemn a conduct so base and unnatural. Therefore if any man or woman that believeth have widows, mothers or grandmothers, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may have sufficiency to relieve them that are widows indeed.

9 I 3. He Chapter VI.

3. He points out the age and qualifications of those who should be entered on the poor’s list, or be taken into office and employed by the church under the deacons. Let not a widow be taken into the number under thewriters years old, having been the wife of one man, and never married to another after any divorce; must reported of for good works in her former better days; if she have brought up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; if she have lodged strangers, when brought by providence in her way; if she have washed the saints fort, condescending to the low-rid officers of charity; if she have relieved the afflicted, with her help, her counsel, and her substance; if she have diligently followed every good work.

4. But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wear wanton against Christ, as they may be in danger of doing, they will then marry improperly, perhaps wickedly, into some heathen family; having thus admonition, because they have cast off their first faith, and apostatized from the prediction which they once made: and withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house in useless and impertinent visiting; and not only idle, but tatters idle, and holy haders, officious and talkative, speaking things which they ought not, to the hurt of their neighbour’s reputation, and to the disturbance of society.

5. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 28. For the scripture faith, ‘I thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20. ‘Them that sin rebuke before all, ’that others 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 before another, doing nothing by partiality. 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 beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. 25. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1 Timothy 5:17-25

The apostle here directs Timothy,

1. Concerning the proper maintenance of a gospel ministry. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, highly esteemed and liberally excused for, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine, whose eminent zeal and diligence requires a suitable acknowledgment: for the scripture faith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn; but in the words he shall be freely allowed to eat: and our Lord hath said, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Note, The work of the ministry is laborious; and well do they who discharge it with zeal and diligence deserve an honourable provision

2. Concerning the accusation of an elder. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses of character and credibility; and listen to no bare surmises or slanderous suggestions. Them that sin before all, being open, notorious, and scandalous offenders, rebuke before all, publicly and with sharpeness, that others also may fear, respecting no man’s rank or greatness. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Judge; and the elect angels, who are the spirits that minister to the heirs of salvation; that thou observe these things, without preferring one before another, not prejudging the cause through favour or affection; doing nothing by partiality, nor suffering any consideration to prejudice or basis your minds for or against any man, but deciding according to truth.

3. Concerning the ordination of ministers. Lay hands suddenly on no man to put him into the ministry, till he hath been thoroughly tried, and found faithful and able; neither he partakers of other men’s sins, by conniving at the intrusion of unfit persons into the sacred office: keep thyself pure from the blood of all men, discountenancing all unbecoming behaviour, and in thy own conversation a pattern of purity and chaffity.

4. Concerning his own health. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities; indelungable labour, and strict abdeniousness, preyed upon a tender confectionment probably, and required in moderation something more supporting than water, to which he had confined himself. Note, The creatures of God are designed for our use and comfort; only let them be used with moderation; not to perspec the flesh, but so as to enable us the better to fulfil the duties of our station.

5. With regard to censure and ordination, of which he had before spoken, he further observes, Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment, and being notorious, such are to be rejected from the ministry, and laid under the church’s censure; and some men they follow after, and though they studiously conceal their sins, yet, on deeper and closer examination, they

will after a while come out; and therefore they should not hastily be admitted into sacred orders, without due probation. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand, their whole character strikingly exemplary, and their ministerial gifts eminent; so that they may be admitted without hesitation: and they that are otherwise cannot be hid, more caution is needful with those whose qualifications are dubious, and it requires some time to make it clear whether they should be received: for, if they are really corrupt in principle or practice, they will soon betray themselves. Note, (1.) Before any be admitted into sacred orders, their character and qualifications should be well examined. An ignorant and scandalous ministry is the greatest reproach to any church. (2.) However secretly men may hide their sins, yet usually in time their true character appears, and at least at a judgment-day no vali can hide the workers of iniquity.