seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 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. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
11 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. 12 Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13 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. 14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.
16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.
22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever
Here's where I got this commentary.But she who lives in pleasure: Those who should be legitimately helped by the church must have godly lives. It is appropriate to say, “You’re not living a godly life, so you won’t receive financial assistance from the church.”
“It does not indicate grossly criminal pleasures; but simply means one who indulges herself in good eating and drinking, pampering her body at the expense of her mind.” (Clarke)
Is dead while she lives: The life lived for mere pleasure and ease is no life at all. It is a living death, whether lived by a young widow or anyone else.
Many who come to the church for assistance are in need because they have lived their lives for the pleasures of alcohol, drugs, or whatever; now they are in need and they want the church to help. It’s legitimate to say, “No; you have lived in pleasure and now suffer the consequences. The resources of this congregation are not for your help in this case.”
Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number: The idea is that if someone is under sixty, they could still support themselves or get remarried. They did not need to be added to the support list of the church.
Refuse the younger widows: As a general rule, these were not to be added to the support roll of the local congregation, because they generally could provide for themselves and could remarry.
They desire to marry, having condemnation: Paul did not condemn young widows for wanting to get married, only observing that many unmarried women are so hungry for marriage and companionship that they don’t conduct themselves in a godly way in regard to relationships.
If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them: Paul concluded with a principle he alluded to three times in this section (1 Timothy 5:4, 5, and 8). The first responsibility for support is at the home; the local church is to support the truly destitute who are godly.
Check this out.... from the same commentary.Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses: Any accusation against a leader should not be automatically received. The accusation should be carefully verified by two or three witnesses — not just two or three others who also heard the gossip. Timothy should not receive or promote unsubstantiated accusations about church leaders.
And finally, a little concern for Timothy's belly.Use a little wine for your stomach’s sake: Water in the ancient world was often impure and Timothy probably had problems from the impure water. Since the fermentation process would eliminate some of the harmful things in the water, it would be better for him to drink a little wine rather than water all the time.
Women were not high on Paul's list of good things in life. It looks like Paul thinks any woman under sixty was too busy trying to get married to take time for Jesus. He figures they can get their supplies by flitting their eyelids and they didn't need any help from the church. I wonder, did he ask some woman out for coffee and get laughed at? He also called for women to sit down and shut up... and stay subservient. Paul sounds like such a catch.... lolI wonder how Paul treated working sheep dogs.
Look at verse 19. I made it bigger so you can find it easily. Paul richly says.... "Don't say something unless you have at least two witnesses." According to Paul... this would be an "unsubstantiated accusation." That's rich... Paul accused Jesus of assault... and although there were people around... No one saw anything.
I don't think Paul liked women much.
Until, that is, they are over 60.
