1 Timothy 5
- Who wrote it
- Paul (debated)
- Who it was for
- Timothy, in Ephesus
- What was happening
- Treating different groups in the church: older and younger, widows, and elders; some advice for Timothy himself
What’s happening
Timothy is not to rebuke an older man "but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity." "Honor widows who are widows indeed." If a widow has children or grandchildren, "let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God." The widow "indeed and desolate" has her hope on God and "continues in petitions and prayers night and day," while one who lives for pleasure "is dead while she lives." "If anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." Rules for the widows' list: "Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, being approved by good works," such as raising children, hospitality, "washed the saints' feet," relieving the afflicted. Younger widows are to be refused, because they may "grow wanton against Christ" and desire to marry, and may learn to be "idle, going about from house to house... gossips and busybodies"; Paul wants them to "marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting," because some have already "turned away after Satan." Believers with widows in the family should relieve them, "and don't let the assembly be burdened." Elders "who rule well" are "worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching," quoting "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain" and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." An accusation against an elder needs "two or three witnesses"; those who sin are to be reproved "in the sight of all." Timothy is to act "without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality," to "lay hands hastily on no one," and to keep himself pure. "Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." Some men's sins and some good works are obvious; others show later.
Why the setting matters
Widows in the ancient world had no pension or social safety net; a widow without family could starve, so the church's care for them (Acts 6:1-6) was a practical help. This chapter separates three groups: widows with family, who should be cared for by their relatives; widows truly alone, who are supported by the church; and younger widows, who are encouraged to remarry. The "enrolled" widows (5:9) were probably a formal list for support, perhaps with some duty of prayer and service; the age of sixty and the phrase "wife of one man" are conditions of the list, and scholars disagree on whether it was an order or office or simply a care list. The harsh sound of 5:11-15 reflects a worry about the church's reputation and about idle talk, and also gives a rule for the particular situation in Ephesus ("some have already turned away after Satan"). "Double honor" in 5:17 uses a word (timē) that can mean respect, or payment, or both; the two quotations in 5:18 point toward pay, and Paul cites Deuteronomy 25:4 in the same way in 1 Corinthians 9:9. The rule of two or three witnesses comes from Deuteronomy 19:15. "Lay hands hastily on no one" (5:22) may refer to appointing leaders or to restoring those who had been disciplined; it is not clear which. The little verse about wine in 5:23 is the only personal medical comment in the letter; it shows both that Timothy was in the habit of avoiding wine, perhaps because of the false teachers' rules (4:3), and that Paul treats it as a practical matter.
Who’s in this chapter
Paul
Gives practical rules for the church's care of different groups.
Timothy
Told to treat each group like family, and to take a little wine for his stomach.
Widows
Cared for by the family first, then by the church.
Elders
Worthy of double honor; accusations need witnesses.
Talk it through
- Paul starts by saying to treat each person in the church like family. How would that change the way you correct someone older or younger than you?
- The chapter puts the first duty of caring for a widow on her family. What do you notice about how the church and the family share the load?
- Paul asks for "double honor" for elders who work at teaching. What does it look like to honor those who serve the church in a way that is real and not just polite?
- The advice about wine for Timothy's stomach sits in the middle of serious instructions. Why might Paul include it?
Read 1 Timothy 5
World English Bible
1Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; 2the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 3Honor widows who are widows indeed. 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 7Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. 8But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 9Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
11But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. 15For already some have turned away after Satan. 16If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19Don’t receive an accusation against an elder, except at the word of two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 21I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality. 22Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure. 23Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. 25In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources