From 1 Timothy 1-6
Most of today’s passage is about widows. Paul cares for ‘true’ widows who are alone with no one to help them, but depend on God. He has little to no respect for those who only care about themselves and waste their resources and time. ‘She is dead even while she lives’.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
At the end of his letter to Timothy, Paul gives him several instructions which he wants him to pass on to the church’s Timothy visits.
5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1 Tim 5.1-2)
Paul wants Timothy to regard the people he meets in church as his family. An older man is his father, etc.
Jesus brings believers of all nations together into a single family.
One of the ten commandments is to honour your father and mother. Timothy is in a position of leadership, but he still has to respect his elders.
Timothy is to treat the women in all purity. In a sexually charged world, where adultery, cultic prostitution and homosexuality was rife these are wise remarks. I’m sure Timothy wasn’t inclined to any of those, but he is being watched by others. His behavior will influence people for good or bad.
Most of today’s passage is about widows.
3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. (1 Tim 5.3-7)
The church is to show respect to widows. I think this means to support them as well. If they need help – help them. The widow should look after their children and grandchildren. They will support their own children by looking after theirs.
Paul looks up to and cares for the ‘true’ widows who are alone (no one to help them) and depend on God. He has little to no respect for those who only care about themselves and waste their resources and time. ‘She is dead even while she lives’ (cf. Eph 2.1).
Paul believes Christians are alive in Christ. Christians do not persist in self-indulgence.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Tim 5.8)
Paul has some fairly scathing words for people who do not look after their own families. Family comes first in Paul’s books.
‘Denying the faith’ is a significant expression, suggesting that the way we behave cannot be separated from our faith in the gospel.
9 Let a widow be enrolled
- if she is not less than sixty years of age,
- having been the wife of one husband, 10 and
- having a reputation for good works:
- if she has brought up children,
- has shown hospitality,
- has washed the feet of the saints,
- has cared for the afflicted, and
- has devoted herself to every good work. (1 Tim 5.9-10)
If someone was enrolled, it means the church would financially support them and make sure they had somewhere to live and sleep.
Maybe Paul wants a resume to apply? I’m wondering if there are less conditions for becoming an overseer of a church! If we were to count up the qualifications necessary for overseers and group together all the do’s and dont’s associated with being ‘above reproach’ in 1 Tim 3, five qualifications are stipulated. In Tit 1, four are needed.
The list is fairly involved, but most are quite logical. I think it would be hard for women 50 and over in this situation. Obviously to be widows they needed to have at least one husband. If they had more than one, they would probably have sufficient assets to live.
Several of the qualifications revolve around hospitality, public opinion and charity. Good works are mentioned twice. Paul stresses their importance in almost all of his letters.
Paul has sterner things to say about younger widows.
11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows. (1 Tim 5.11-16)
According to Paul, younger widows seem ready to fall away from Christ at a drop of a hat. Some have even ‘strayed after Satan’. Paul says they don’t work, they gossip and are always poking their noses into everyone else’s business.
The women in my church are not like this.
It seems Paul thinks if women are left to their own devices they will decline. They need something to occupy them. Paul has several suggestions for how they should live. They need to marry, have children and manage their households. If they have widows in their family they should look after them and I think to spare the church the cost in looking after them as well.
Clearly there is a culture gap between now and then.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says,
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and,
“The laborer deserves his wages.”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. (1 Tim 5.17-19)
Leaders are given special honor. They still are in most churches for their work. Believers should be praying for them and supporting them in their ministry.
We should not be quick to assume they have done the wrong thing.
20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. (1 Tim 5.20-21)
Paul is not clear who he is talking about. Elders or anyone in the church. I suspect the latter. The throwaway expression speaks volumes about Paul’s expectations for sin in believers lives. Or should I say, lack there of.
Paul does not expect believers to persist in sin. If they do they should be made an example of.
Timothy of course is to keep all these rules and enforce them wherever he goes.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (1 Tim 5.22)
Laying on hands conferred a special status on a person. Like setting them apart for ministry. Here I think Paul is urging Timothy to be cautious before appointing someone to leadership.
Paul does not want Timothy to join others in sin. I would have thought this instruction was obvious so I question why he had to say it in the first place.
Paul says ‘keep yourself pure’ suggesting two things. Firstly the sin Paul thinks he might join others in may be sexual immorality. That would make him unclean, impure. I think Timothy is single and he may be tempted into that. Second, it implies Paul believes Timothy is pure. Again this speaks a bit about Paul’s view on the nature of believers.
23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (1 Tim 5.23)
The instruction stands out from the immediate context. Clearly Paul has no problem with the occasional drink, so long as it does not lead to getting drunk (Eph 5.18). Timothy seems to have a weaker constitution.
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.
25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. (1 Tim 5.24-25)
Paul returns to the theme of sin. He knows some sins are visible. They will be judged. But some are hidden and people seem to get away with them in this life. But they will be revealed in time and shown for what they are. Paul is not speaking about Timothy (‘some people’, ‘others’). But reassuring him sin and wrongdoing will eventually be judged.
What he says afterwards would encourage Timothy to persist in good works himself. Knowing they please God and will be commended in due time.
For Believers
Paul reminds us that Church is our family. The men are our fathers and brothers. The women our mothers and sisters. We should be treating them accordingly.
Widows are given a lot of attention by Paul in this passage. I find it tough to assume all widows behave as Paul has described here. Perhaps they did in Paul’s time. The widows I’ve known have grieved deeply and need comfort. They would meet the criteria for enrollment Paul listed.
We should remember to keep supporting our elders and praying for them.
Keep avoiding sin, God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will provide a way out for you. So when you are tempted ask him for help and resist the devil.
As Paul frequently says, devote yourselves to doing good.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
