First Timothy Chapter Five Series

(What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. The text that I am using in the New American Standard Bible. Here are other Bible translations that were used: KJV – King James Version. AMP – Amplified Bible. MSG – Message Bible. BBE – Bible in Basic English. UDB – Unlocked Dynamic Bible. NET – New English Translation.)

Instructions for the Church

1Tim 5:1 “Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers,”

Notice here that Paul is giving a command to Timothy. “Do not” –

“sharply rebuke” AMP – sharply reprimand; MSG – harsh or impatient; BBE – sharp words;

We are not to “hit or beat up” older men with our words.

“to an older man” – some would take this as a position of higher authority but most take it as a matter of age. Age itself seems to be a relative concept – when you ask a person, “How old is old?” you are going to get various responses from various people. When I was 12 I thought that 21 was old. But our perspective of “old” changes as we age. The UDB translates it thus: “Do not speak harshly to a man older than yourself.” We are to treat older men as if we are appealing to them as fathers.

But then Paul includes how we are to treat others as well. (Younger Men – Older Women – Younger Women)

This would seem to fill the whole gambit – except for children.

1Ti 5:2 “the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

Our relationship should as thus:

a. Treat Older Men as Fathers.

b. Treat Younger Men as Brothers.

c. Treat Older Women as Mothers.

d. Treat Younger Women as Sisters.

Our communication with others is always to be as if we are speaking to family members.

Men in the ministry can always avoid improper attitudes toward men and women by treating them as family members. If minister sees men and women as fellow members in God's family, they will protect them and help them grow spiritually.

1Ti 5:3 “Honor widows who are widows indeed;”

Paul now turns to the subject of widows. He will spend some time on this subject. (1 Timothy 5:3-16)

In the first part of this passage Paul breaks down widows into two categories:

a. First, there were the bereaved who had children or grandchildren who could support them.

b. Second, there were those who had no family to care for them, the bereft as well as bereaved.

Later he will address two other groups:

a. Younger widows who are below the age of 60.

b. Older widows who are 60 and above.

“widows indeed” AMP – truly widowed [alone, and without support]; MSG – widows who are destitute; NET – widows who are truly in need

1Ti 5:4 “but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.”

In this verse we find that children and grandchildren have a responsibility to the female members of the family who have become widows. It is their responsibility to see that they are taken care of properly.

Because there were no pensions, no social security, no life insurance, and few honorable jobs for women, widows were usually unable to support themselves. The responsibility for caring for the helpless naturally falls first on their families—the people whose lives are most closely linked with theirs. Paul stresses the importance of each family caring for the needs of its widows and not leaving it for the church. The church can then care for those widows who have no families. A widow who had no children or other family members to support her was doomed to poverty. From the beginning, the church took care of its widows, who in turn gave valuable service to the church.

1Ti 5:5 “Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.”

The widow described in this verse is a widow – indeed. She has no one that she can turn to for support except God. She has no family members. This being the case turns to God for her help by offering up entreaties and prayers – night and day.

Barnes has said: “She has no one else to look to but God. She has no earthly reliance, and, destitute of husband, children, and property, she feels her dependence, and steadily looks to God for consolation and support.”