1Directions to Timothy how to admonish persons of different conditions. 3Concerning widows. 17Elders, if they do well, are to be doubly honoured; 19and are not to be censured without full proof; and then openly and impartially. 22A caution not to ordain any one precipitately. 23Advice respecting Timothy's health. 24Some men's characters are more easily discerned than those of others.
1REBUKE1 not ana2elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
1 The Greek word properly signifies to strike anyone with words.
a Lev. 19:32.
2 That the Greek word presbyteros must here be taken in general for all old men, appears by the following contrasts.
2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
33Honour widows that are widows 4indeed.
3 That is, advance them, give them all help and assistance, as the following verse requires. See also verse 17.
4 That is, without children or friends who can help them, or who are deprived of all human help, as is declared in verse 5.
4But if any widow have 5children or nephews,b let 6them learn first to shew piety 7at home, andc8to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Namely, who have come to age, and have means to help her.
b grandsons
6 Namely, children, or children’s children. Others understand it of the widow, but the plural number, and the word learn (which in the Greek does not signify to instruct, but to be instructed) and the Greek words to requite are repugnant to it.
7 That is, to their own family and kindred.
c Gen. 45:10, 11; Mat. 15:4; Mark 7:10; Eph. 6:1, 2.
8 That is, help and nourish them again, even as they did their children in their youth.
5Nowd she that is a widow indeed, and 9desolate, 10trustethe in God, and 11continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
d 1 Cor. 7:32.
9 That is, without means or friends, who either can or will help her.
10 Namely, alone, Who is a Father of widows and the fatherless, Psalm 68:5.
e Luke 2:36.
11 Namely, as is related concerning Anna the prophetess, Luke 2:36, etc.
6But she that liveth in pleasure is 12dead while she liveth.
12 That is, though she is alive according to the body, yet she is spiritually dead, as Mat. 8:22.
7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8Butf13if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath 14denied the faith, and is worse than an 15infidel.
f Gal. 6:10.
13 Namely, having health and the means to do it.
14 Namely, in the act, although he professes the same with his mouth. See Titus 1:16.
15 Namely, seeing they even by the law of nature commonly do this.
9Let not a widow be 16taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife 17of one man,
16 Namely, unto the office of a deaconess, which in the early church served the congregation amongst the sick, strangers, and poor people, and who for that cause, being in need, were maintained by the congregation.
17 Not that women had many husbands at one time, but because by divorce, which was then in common use, women had often many husbands one after another, who were still alive together, which is reproved by Christ, Mat. 5:32; Mark 10:12. Others take it for one who was but once married, but this is contrary to that which Paul says in Rom. 7:1, etc., and 1 Cor. 7:39.
10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, ifg she have lodged strangers, ifh she have washed the saints’ 18feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have 19diligently followed every good work.
g 1 Peter 4:9.
h Gen. 18:4; 19:2; Luke 7:38, 44.
18 As this was very usual in those warm countries, where people went barefooted and only upon sandals, and therefore being wearied or soiled with dust, many were wont to use such services for refreshments. See John 13:5, 14, and by this one example of courtesy all manner of care and service is understood.
19 Or, followed after.
11But the younger widows 20refuse: for when they have begun to wax 21wanton 22against Christ, they will marry;
20 Or, reject, do not receive. Namely, to choose them into the office of deaconesses. For, otherwise they were not rejected from the number of the members of the congregation, when they were of a good life, as appears from verse 14, and also from Rom. 7:3 and 1 Cor. 7:39, before noted; no, not even from the help of the congregation, when they had need of it, and had no children or friends which could help them, as Paul concludes in verse 16.
21 That is, are now well nourished, and have become carnally minded in the service and maintenance of the congregation. See Rev. 18:7, 9.
22 That is, without respect to the service which they have promised to Christ and His congregation.
1223Having damnation, because they have cast off 24their first faith.
23 Or, Having guilt, that is, having done a thing that is punishable, and for which they are to be disapproved and blamed. Others take the word damnation for judgment or condemnation, and their first faith for the Christian faith, which they had professed earlier in baptism. But seeing Paul here speaks of marriage, which no man promises in baptism, therefore it is here suitably taken somewhat more mildly, for disapproving or blaming, as is also to be gathered from the 14th verse.
24 That is, their first promise or faithfulness, namely, to see themselves be used for the service of the congregation, for which by their unseasonable marriage they make themselves unsuitable. For, that hereby is understood no direct promise not to marry, appears by what is said in verse 14.
13And 25withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlersi also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
25 Namely, some others of these young widows, who were chosen to the service of the congregation, under the appearance of going to visit one or the other, are lapsed into such vanity.
i Titus 2:3.
1426I will therefore that the younger women marry,j bear children, guide the house, give none occasion 27to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
26 That is, command, namely, if they have not the gift of continence, 1 Cor. 7:7, 9.
j 1 Cor. 7:9.
27 That is, to those who are strangers of the faith, and do but seek occasion of reproaching. Others take it for Satan himself.
15For 28some are already 29turned aside after Satan.
28 Namely, of these young widows, who are therefore disapproved, and disdained by the congregation.
29 That is, are turned away from the faith, and turned again unto Satan, whom they formerly served, namely, because of disgrace and shame which they suffered by reason of their misdemeanor in the congregation. Others take it for having given ear to the temptations of Satan, and having fallen to uncleanness.
16If any man or woman that believeth have 30widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve 31them 32that are widows indeed.
30 Namely, in their kindred, or among their progenitors; understand: if they have means that they are able to do this.
31 Namely, the congregation.
32 That is, without children or children’s children who are grown up, and destitute of all friends and help, as verse 5.
17Letk the elders that rule well be counted worthy of 33double honour, 34especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
k Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; Gal. 6:6; Philip. 2:29; 1 Thes. 5:12; Heb. 13:17.
33 That is, greater or more abundant. Under this honor is also understood their maintenance, as the following verses show, and the word honour is so used by the Hebrews. See Mark 7:10, 11, etc.
34 From this it clearly appears that there were then two kinds of elders in the congregation, namely, some who labored in the Word, and others who were used only for the government of the congregation, as they are also called overseers or rulers, Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28, and elsewhere. For, whereas some would expound this thus, those who acquitted themselves well above others and were diligent in their ministry with difficulty and great labor would be understood by the words who labour in the word, that this is groundless; seeing Paul never praised, nor said that such teachers rule well, who did not very well acquit themselves, or were more remiss in their ministry than others, much less that they were counted worthy of double honour.
18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle 35thel ox that treadeth out the corn. And, 36Them labourer is worthy of his reward.
35 See of this the annotations on 1 Cor. 9:9.
l Deut. 25:4; 1 Cor. 9:9.
36 These words are found in Mat. 10:10.
m Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14; Mat. 10:10; Luke 10:7.
19Against an elder 37receive not an accusation, but beforen two or three witnesses.
37 That is, do not condemn him alone, not without sufficient witnesses, which might not be done to anyone according to the law of Moses, Deut. 19:15, but do not so much as receive any accusation to judge thereof. The reason is, because such as are in this public service of the governing of the congregation, seeing they must admonish everyone, and rebuke the unruly, may easily stir up displeasures and ill-will against themselves, and because the very receiving of accusations to judge of them makes a man suspect, and therefore tends to the offense of the congregation, and to the reproach of the same.
n Deut. 19:15.
2038Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
38 Namely, among the elders, when they sin publicly, or when they are sufficiently convinced. For of them he had spoken immediately before; which nevertheless may and must also be pointed to others, seeing the apostle’s reasons avail no less against them. See Mat. 18:17.
21 Io charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe 39these things 40withoutp preferring one before another, doing nothing by 41partiality.
o Rom. 1:9; 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:23; 11:31; Gal. 1:20; Philip. 1:8; 1 Thes. 2:5; 5:27; 1 Tim. 6:13.
39 Namely, which are spoken previously, and shall yet be stated hereafter; because they concern the ministers of the congregation, therefore the apostle here uses such a high declaration to Timothy.
40 Or, without giving the one more advantage herein than to another, as the Greek word prokrima mostly signifies.
p Deut. 17:4; 19:18.
41 Or, leaning to; a similitude taken from a balance or scales, in which one side of the scale inclines more than the other.
22Layq hands 42suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of 43other men’s sins: keep thyself 44pure.
q Acts 6:6; 8:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6.
42 That is, without having made a proper and sufficient investigation of the person, his life, and his doctrine.
43 This may be understood either of those who would choose an unqualified person to the ministry, or of the person, being incompetent, is chosen.
44 That is, free from such a sin, or, without guilt, as this Greek word hagnos is also taken, 2 Cor. 7:11.
23Drink no longer 45water, but use a little wine forr thy stomach’s sake and thine often 46infirmities.
45 The word only, (inserted in another translation) is not in the Greek text, but it must necessarily be understood therewith, as the sequel shows. For Paul forbids him not to drink water, but to drink nothing but water only.
r Psalm 104:15.
46 Namely, where into you sometimes lapse for want of sufficient sustenance or food.
24Some men's sins are open 47beforehand,s going before 48to judgment; and some men they 49follow after.
47 Namely, before they are chosen to the ministry, as is said of Simon the sorcerer, Acts 8:18.
s Gal. 5:19.
48 Or, to condemn them, namely, as incompetent for the ministry, that is, to reject them, or not to choose them to the service of the congregation.
49 This some understand thus, that the scandalous life or evil doctrine of some men is heretofore sufficiently known, even before one makes an examination thereof, and therefore, they can be passed by without difficulty; but some men’s sins follow after, that is, are known till due search be made thereof, and therefore men should make diligent search before they choose. Others take it for being known after that they are chosen, seeing beforehand, as hypocrites are wont to do, they carried themselves well for a while, and that therefore they who chose them are not guilty of those secret sins, if there were but due search made.
25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they 50that are otherwise cannot be hid.
50 Gr. they who have otherwise; that is, whose good works, and competence for the ministry are not yet known, but obscured for want of opportunity, or by reason of evil men, those God shall in His own time bring to light. The apostle then will have diligent search made hereof also.