1 Timothy 4:11-16, 5:1-16

4:11-16 & 5:1-2, 5:3-8 9-16

11-16

11

This last section of chapter 4 Paul encourages and reminds Timothy of the spiritual gifts he has been given, starting out very plain and simple. Command and teach these things, the things that Paul had just discussed, staying true to the word and work and strive towards godliness.

12

He instructs to not let anyone think less of him because of his age, at the time Timothy was in his 30s and was still considered young to the Greek culture at the time, Paul does not tell him to rebuke those who may think that he was too young, but be an example to them in his speech, how he conducts himself, showing the love of Christ through him to others, staying faithful to the word, and in his purity, all the notes on Timothy I saw said that he was not married so this reference could mean his purity through celibacy but even if he was married purity also means being pure to his wife as 2:2 says, the husband of one wife.

13

As he mentioned earlier Paul was delayed in his coming to Ephesus to be with Timothy so Paul reminds him to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to be teaching openly and boldly to all that are in his care.

14-15

Earlier in chapter one it was mentioned that Timothy’s gifts were revealed through prophecy given by God and confirmed by the Apostles, the gifts of preaching and leading the church, and these gifts are not to be neglected or ignored but practiced and honed constantly so that all will see proficiency and ability in them.

16

But don’t become arrogant in his gifts and to keep a close watch on himself and in his teaching. Keep himself in check and ensure that everything he teaches is rooted and supported in the scriptures, no silly myths or old wives tales. In doing so he will be leading not only his flock to further sanctification but also himself.

5:1-2

1.Chapter 5 moves from Paul instructing and encouraging Timothy in more of a personal nature to instructions on how to view and treat the church members. Verses one and two lay out in general how treat sinning members of the church. The first advice is for how to interact with an older or elderly man, the KJV and ASV saying an elder, but this is not Paul giving instruction on how do deal with an elder/pastor/overseer but with a man who is older. Since Timothy was a younger man Paul tells him to treat the older man who is sinning as a father, With respect and kindness. He is not saying that just because the man is elderly that any sin commited by him should be overlooked, but his age, and Timothy’s younger age, calls for a different approach, encourage him. If the sinning man is Timothy’s age or younger to treat him as a brother, which if he is a believer he would be as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

2

Just as He is to treat the older man who is in sin as a father He is to treat the older woman in sin as a mother, with all of the respect and honor you would a parent. Likewise a younger woman as a sister. Paul adds at the end of the advice for younger women, with all purity, which is a warning to be extra careful when instructing the younger women, not that Paul would have reason to suspect Timothy of any unwanted behavior towards women but rather that he should not give any reason for any possibility for someone to start rumours or suspicion. It is unfortunate but Satan will try and attack wherever he can so it is much better to be extra cautious, not be in a closed room alone with a female member for example. But in all of these interactions be encouraging and the goal is not to punish or be accusatory but to bring the sinner to repentance

3-8

3

Verses 3-16 go into more detail on how the Church is to handle widows, which back in Acts was one of the reasons for the institution of deacons, and the attention to the issue of widows Paul has in this letter indicates that this was a common issue in the Church. Paul starts out with the command to honor widows who are truly widows, verses 4-8 goes on to detail what the true widow is but those who are deemed to truly be a widow are to be honored. This honoring of them means more than just showing respect to, Paul uses this to mean that they are to be supported and cared for by the church, primarily financially but also aiding in any need that they may have. And because of this duty that the Church has to its widows, Paul includes instruction on what will qualify a widow for this type of support, the true widow.

4

If a woman who has lost her husband but has children or grandchildren of working age then they are the primary responsible people who are to care for her. Families are to care for their own widows, its one of the 10 commandments, honor your mother and father, that means more than just listening and obeying them. A child or grandchild lovingly caring for their mother or grandmother is pleasing to God.

5

If a widow does not have family to care for her, she must be a believer. She must have all of her hope, faith, if God, as we all should, but she must be a prayerful believer.

6

There can be a couple of ways to interpret verse 6. It can be a continuation in contrast of verse 5, the believing widow will be always in prayer and trusting in God, but conversely the unbeliever will be self-indulgent, only thinking of herself and wanting and easy life provided for her, this widow is dead even while she lives, or she is alive but spiritually dead. Calvin interprets verse 6 is still referring to a believing widow but one that uses that with what she is given to indulge herself with luxuries and seeks an easy life of no work or effort, he says that this type of widow is of no use and does no good and is therefore “dead”

7

Command these things, or make sure that the widows that are given support follow these stipulations so they will be above reproach, no one will be able to accuse them of undeserving of support from the church.

8

Verse 8 restates what was in verse 4, it is the primary responsibility of the relatives to care for their own families, this is especially true for family members of widows who are believers, if they do not care for their own families they are denying their faith with their actions and are in a worse state than an unbeliever.

9-16

9

Verse 9 is not saying that to be eligible for church support the widow has to be over 60, to be enrolled, or put on the list, or taken into the number, is meaning that if the widow wants to serve the church like in what is said in Titus 2:3–5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” these women should be over 60, which at the time was the age of retirement for woman as by that age their children would be grown and on their own. They also, like deacons and elders were to be a one-man woman. Not literally only married once but devoted to their husbands in the same way as discussed being a one-woman man is.

10

The widow that wants to devote herself to the church should be know for her good works, being a godly mother, hospitable, washed the feet of the saints, meaning she has a servants heart, gives aid and comfort to the sick, and is devoted to working for the glory of God.

11-12

Conversely Paul says to refuse to enroll a younger widow, a younger widow would be much more likely to remarry and possibly have more children with her new husband, their passions, or desires to be married again may lead them to marry an unbeliever and abandon the faith, showing that they were never a believer in the first place.

13-15

Paul advises the younger women to remarry and have children so that they do not fall into being idle, going from house to house and gossiping, prying into things that do not concern them. This behavior is giving the adversary, Satan, the ability to slander, adding that some in the church have already strayed after Satan and are following this pattern of life.

16

Paul closes this section on the care of widows with another reminder for the family of widows, this mention specifically for the believing woman who has a relative that is a widow, that it is her responsibility, along with the family, to be the primary support for widows so the church can care for those that have no family are are completely widowed, not only husband-less but without family as well.