How Behave In Church (1 Timothy 5)

How should we treat each other in the church? How should we treat widows? How should widows behave? Should elders who preach well receive a double honorarium? What about accusations against elders? How should we correct elders? Let’s find out in 1 Timothy 5.

How should we treat men and women in our churches?

Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather plead with him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1 Timothy 5:1-2 LSB)

How should we treat widows?

Honor widows who are actually widows; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. (1 Timothy 5:3-4 NASB)

How should a widow behave?

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. (1 Timothy 5:5-6 NIV)

Should Christians provide for their families?

And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:7-8 NKJV)

Are these next verses talking about an early version of nuns or widows given financial assistance in the church or both? Some translations add words referring to a support list. Those words are simply not there in the Greek. Would we refuse financial assistance to a widow in need who has not been the wife of one husband, or is this a qualification for a special group of widows who love to serve in the church?

Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. (1 Timothy 5:9-10 NKJV)

Why not put younger widows on this list? If this is referring to a list of early nuns, does it put Rome to shame for choosing younger women under 60 as nuns? What about making an irreversible vow at a young age, is that oppressive and harmful to young women? On the other hand, if this is talking about financial assistance, what could be some dangers for younger women?

As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. (1 Timothy 5:11-13 NIV)

Is the God-breathed scripture here better than encouraging women to make foolish irreversible vows at an early age? Ought younger widows to remarry if possible?

So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan. (1 Timothy 5:14-15 NLT)

On the other hand, these next verses seem to indicate that the discussion is about support for widows and that we Christians ought to care for elderly widows in our own families?

If 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. (1 Timothy 5:16 WEB)

Should elders who preach well receive a double honorarium? What about accusations against elders?

Elders who lead well should be paid double, especially those who work with public speaking and teaching. The scripture says, Don’t put a muzzle on an ox while it treads grain, and Workers deserve their pay. Don’t accept an accusation made against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:17-19 CEB)

If a sinning brother must be corrected, Jesus taught us to first go to him alone (Matthew 18). However, an elder’s example is visible to all, so if he must be corrected, how is that different?

But if any of the leaders should keep on sinning, they must be corrected in front of the whole group, as a warning to everyone else. (1 Timothy 5:20 CEV)