1 Timothy: Honoring Our Older Brothers and Sisters

I. INTRODUCTION

In the previous two chapters, we have examined different roles among the family of God. In ch3, we looked at the qualifications for elders and deacons, and in chapter 4, we examined qualities that Timothy as an evangelist needed to fulfilled if he wanted to service the Lord well in his role.

As we get to chapter 5, we will continue along this same mindset by looking at instructions that Paul gives Timothy regarding qualifications for a certain group of widows that are similar to the qualifications to elders, as well as some more instructions for Timothy regarding his relationship with the elders in the congregation while he worked with them.

II. Verses 3-16 à Honor Widows

In 5:3-6:2, Paul gives Timothy instructions regarding “honor”. Three times this word is used in the following passages (honor widows (3-16), double-honor towards elders (17-25), and slaves honoring masters (6:1-2)).

In verses 3-16, Timothy is then instructed regarding how widows need to be cared for. As you read through this passage, there seems to be three different groups of widows referred to here.

1. Widows who are not left alone; having family or relatives to care for them.

2. Widows indeed – a group of special widows who meet certain qualifications and are enrolled to receive ongoing support and care from their brothers and sisters in Christ; which would include taking care of her physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc. (referred to in other translations as “taken into the number, enrolled, or enlisted...”)

3. Younger widows who are not allowed to be added to this list or enrolled

III. Widows w/ Family to Care for Them

So beginning with the first group, you have instructions given regarding those widows who have family members who can take care of their needs

We see instructions regarding these widows in verses 4, 8, and 16

· The obligation to care for widows is primarily given to the family of the widow. Paul says in verse 4 that if the widow has children or grandchildren, then the thing that is right for them to do is to care for their relative. Just as the widow cared for them and nurtured them as they were growing up, now the children and grandchildren are given this privilege (not burden). The children and grandchildren of the widow need to “make some return” to the widow and show piety towards them. They need to show their religion to those within their household.

· In verse 8, Paul says that those who were unwilling to care for widows in their family, that they are WORSE than unbelievers. Even the unbelievers do this. What shame it brings upon, not only your family, but on Christ, if you are a believer and are unwilling to care for a widow in your family. You have DENIED the faith if you are unwilling! Part of “honoring father and mother” is to care for them when they are old if that need arises... This is “acceptable to God.”

· If they are in need, they need help. This help probably includes much more than just giving them a place to stay, there are emotional and spiritual needs that widows have also. To give a widow in your family a place to stay is not the only need. They need your love. They need your company when they are lonely…

IV. Enrolled Widows who received long-term care from the brethren (Taken into the number, enrolled, or enlisted...)

Qualifications

· They are “left alone” – they do not have family or relatives to care for their needs (v5).

· We also see this is a godly woman who trusts in God and continues in prayer night and day (v5)

· V9-10 à She must be at least 60 years old, the wife of one man (either married only once or faithful to her husband)

· A reputation for doing good works. Some specific examples are given here:

o She has brought up children. This shows she had to have bore children. This may show that a widow can be put on the list if her children are unwilling to care for her or if her children are no longer living.

o She has shown hospitality to strangers

o She has done menial service – washing the saints’ feet

o She has assisted others in distress. This is a woman who is known for being a servant of others.

Productivity – Some questions about enrolled widows…

· “Continues in entreaties and prayers night and day” This may show that there were expectations on the time of the widows who received this ongoing care and support. There is always something for them to do, even when they are stuck at home and sick.

· This may show that these widows who were enrolled were a special group of workers who were entrusted with the important work of prayer. This seems to be the case here and in the writings of church leaders in the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

· And many believe that part of this enrollment seems to include some kind of pledge to not be remarried. (V12 (NASB) – set aside their former pledge...)

V. Younger Widows

Widows under 60 years old are not permitted to be on the list. Paul gives a few reasons for this.

· They at their age may desire to marry and forsake the commitment they would be expected to make by being taken into the number (v12). There is a strong judgment given towards those who would do this...

· They have a greater chance to not use their time productively (v13). They may take advantage of the system and learn to become idle and cause trouble.

Instructions/encouragement for younger widows

· Paul says, “"So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander." ()

· This is what Paul desires of or urges the younger widows to do. Be productive, fulfill the roles that God has given you, following in the steps of the enrolled widows described in verses 9-10. Doing this will make it so the adversary has nothing to accuse her of

VI. This passage gives us a lot of good instruction to consider regarding caring for widows and also things that those who are older can do for the Lord.

· Younger folks with aging parents and grandparents need to remember the moral responsibility that they have to care for their parents or grandparents if the need arises. This may be something that we need to prepare ourselves for.

· Those who are older and homebound, there is not an age of retirement from work in the kingdom. There is ALWAYS something you can do for the Lord and His people. It is assumed in this passage that older, godly people spend a lot of time in prayer for their family, church family, etc. This is such an important work that desperately needs done.

VII. Instructions Regarding Elders. This passage can be divided up into three sections.

First, Double honor of elders

· Paul says in verse 17, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”

· We already saw in as we looked at the qualifications of elders that their primary role among the flock is to teach. They lead the flock primarily with the teaching of word of God. Paul builds upon this here that when the elder is excelling in this work; when he is ruling well and has devoted himself to the word to the point where he needs financial assistance, then he is worthy of double honor. He is to be respected for his devotion to the word and to the flock, but also, as we see in the quotation from the law in verse 18, he can receive financial support for his work as an elder. It is good for the flock to remove the need for the elder to have to have a secular job so they can be freed up to excel even more in their work as an elder.

o Some may look at this passage and come to the conclusion that the elder in this case is also an evangelist. I don’t believe this is implied in the passage. Just because he is a teacher that receives support does not make him an evangelist. What seems to be the case here is that he is only in the role of an elder but is excelling in the work that he has already be entrusted with by God, and because of this, is worthy of support as an elder.

Second, the Discipline of elders

· Then in verses 19-21, Paul gives Timothy instructions regarding the discipline of elders. He says in verse 19 to not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of 2-3 witnesses. They are to receive an extra level of respect in making sure that their reputation as leaders is not tarnished by unnecessary or destructive criticism and by any false accusations. So Timothy needed to make sure there was sufficient evidence for any sin committed

· If an elder is found to be in sin, then he should be confronted, but even then, it should be done respectfully.

o 5:1 should be applied which says not to “sharply rebuke an older man, but rather to appeal to him as a father.” He still deserves respect. Because of his age, he deserves a gentle appeal.

· But if he is unwilling to repent, then it needs to be taken before the church. Paul says in v20 that “those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all. Just because they are an elder does not mean their sin should not be dealt with. If they are unwilling to repent, their sin can cause great damage to the flock if it is not dealt with.

o Paul says to Timothy in v21 that there should be no partiality in discipline. If someone is unwilling to repent, they need to be approached out of concern for their soul.

Third, Appointing of elders (v22-25)

· In verses 22-25 Paul tells Timothy not to “lay hands too hastily on anyone.” This was commonly done in the New Testament when someone was being appointed for some kind of service. So I tend to look at this as an instruction from Paul to show caution in who is being appointed.

· Paul gives this instruction to Timothy because it does seem within Acts and these letters to evangelists (Timothy & Titus) that the role of appointing elders was either evangelists or apostles.

· The work of the elder is so important that you need to make sure you put the right men into this service. It is easier to take the time to examine a man’s character than it is to clean up the mess that an unqualified man can bring to a church. So you just don’t put anyone into this service, and first impressions can be misleading.

· Often, people can appear “good” at first impression, but end up being a mess spiritually…

· So Timothy is instructed to take his time, do not appoint someone based on first impressions. Make sure you know the man who is being appointed. Make sure this is a man of godly character, and understand that it takes a while to examine someone’s character.

o And why this is important for Timothy is because, in verse 22 that if he lays hands on someone too hastily, and it becomes a mess, he shares in the responsibility for the mess. He will be held accountable for it.

All of the roles of service we have studied in this epistle are so important, and we have the responsibility to make sure that ONLY those who meet the qualifications given with scripture for them fulfill these roles, whether it be deacons, evangelists, elders, widows, etc. Souls are on the line here if the wrong people are appointed, and the process of appointing people into some kind of service is something that is so important that it needs to be done with prayer, fasting, and careful examination of those being considered for a service.

VIII. Conclusion

So this brings the first two “honor sections” of 5:3-6:2 to a close. Honor widows and give elders double honor… Lord willing, next Lord’s Day, we will talk about the third section in 6:1-2, where slaves are instructed to honor their masters.