Chapter Five

Timothy’s relationship toward elderly women and men (1–2). His relationship toward widows (3–16). Timothy and the presbyters (17–20). Conclusion of pastoral instructions (21–25).

1 Timothy 5:1. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as you would a father; treat younger men as brothers, 1 Timothy 5:2. older women as mothers, younger women as sisters—with complete purity. One must act differently with each group and condition of believers. An older person should not be rebuked, that is, should not be spoken to too harshly. That this word means a truly elderly person rather than a person holding the rank of presbyter (the Greek word used here is presbyteroi) is evident from the fact that this definition is contrasted with terms meaning ages (elderly women, young people). Timothy was young, so it was not difficult for him to speak to an older man as to his father. “With complete purity.” In his relations with young women Timothy should be free from all desires.

1 Timothy 5:3. Honor widows who are truly widows. 1 Timothy 5:4. If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety to their own family and repay what they owe to their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight. 1 Timothy 5:5. A widow who is truly a widow and is left alone has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 1 Timothy 5:6. but she who indulges in pleasure is dead even while she lives. 1 Timothy 5:7. Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. The apostolic church faced many problems caused by widows, who were quite numerous in those dangerous times for Christianity. Timothy should honor them, that is, treat them with respect and help them from church resources. But these should be “truly widows,” that is, women left alone by the death of their husbands. There are widows of another sort—those who have children or grandchildren: these, of course, should receive help from these latter and not burden the church treasury. “Let them first learn”... The apostle is not speaking about children and grandchildren but about the widows themselves (John Chrysostom, Theodoret, and others), and instead of “let them learn” it is better to read: “let her learn” (manthaneto). “To show piety to their own family”—more precisely: to ensure that children or grandchildren acquire pious habits (eusebein) and grow in respect toward their forebears (tois progenois—in Russian not quite accurately: “to their parents”). It is different for a widow in the true sense of the word (v. 5): she, having no children or grandchildren, being completely alone, will certainly place all her hope only in God and will keep apart from practical domestic work, dedicating all her time to prayer and pious discipline. If instead she gives herself to a life of indulgence instead of piety, she will thereby clearly show that she is only a Christian in name and a participant in the new and better life: in reality she is a spiritually dead person (compare Rev 3:1). Timothy should constantly impress on widows the thought of this, so that they do not become a subject of reproach, mainly from those not belonging to the Church (compare 1 Pet 3:16).

1 Timothy 5:8. But if anyone does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, they have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever. Anyone who does not care for their fellow believers and especially for members of their own family has denied the faith of Christ, the chief requirement of which is that Christians show active love toward their neighbors, and they are even worse than a pagan, who could not be denied concern for his own relatives. The apostle, of course, has in mind mainly those Christians who for various reasons refused to help their widow relatives. Thus this verse represents a transition to what follows.

1 Timothy 5:9. Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been faithful to her husband, 1 Timothy 5:10. and is well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work. In the roster or list of widows receiving support from the Church (the verb katalegesto, not quite accurately translated in Russian as “should be selected,” indicates such a list), widows satisfying three conditions should be entered: 1) when they are not less than 60 years old—an age when a woman is no longer able to earn her own living by her labor, 2) when a widow had one husband (compare 1 Tim 3:2), and, finally, 3) in general when she is known to the Church for her good works. “Washed the feet of the saints,” that is, of Christians who came to her house from afar. “Devoted herself to every good work,” that is, responded to every good community initiative.

1 Timothy 5:11. But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry, 1 Timothy 5:12. and so they incur condemnation for having broken their first pledge. 1 Timothy 5:13. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle, going about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say. Younger widows should not be entered in the list of widows receiving support from the Church, because they, finding comfort in Christ, or more precisely, receiving support from the Church of Christ (the Russian expression katastenacharchi is translated too broadly: “being drawn into luxury contrary to Christ”), at the same time do not think about serving Christ or his Church, but about their personal advantages, and above all about the pleasures of married life. “They incur condemnation” (from whom and what kind is not said), because they changed their previously stated decision—to dedicate themselves to the service of the Church. Besides, the apostle thinks it necessary to point out that such widows become accustomed to idleness and empty gossip in conversations with other women.

1 Timothy 5:14. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us. 1 Timothy 5:15. For some have already strayed in pursuit of Satan. 1 Timothy 5:16. If any believing man or woman has widows in the family, let them care for them themselves and not let the church be burdened, so that it can help those who are truly widows. Therefore the apostle firmly requires (“I would have”—not quite the correct translation of the expression boulomai), that younger widows should marry again and occupy themselves with children and housekeeping, not giving opponents of Christianity—Jews and pagans—cause to revile the Christian faith. And there is reason to fear for younger widows: some of them have already gone down a wrong path (“in pursuit of Satan”). The apostle concludes his instructions regarding widows by inviting all believers—to help their widows—relatives and acquaintances—not burdening the Church with care for them.

1 Timothy 5:17. Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:18. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The laborer deserves to be paid. 1 Timothy 5:19. Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 1 Timothy 5:20. As for those who continue in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. Turning to the presbyters, the apostle requires that they be honored doubly for their leadership service—both as old men by age and as bearers of a special high office. Especially deserving of such honor are those who not only occupy themselves with the affairs of church management but also appear as preachers and teachers of the faith. Honor should be expressed first of all in payment for their labors, which presbyters should receive, as should every laborer: this is stated both in the Old (Deut 25:4) and New Testament (Matt 10:10). As for presbyters who do not fulfill their high calling, an accusation against them should be brought forward with a sufficient number of witnesses. In this case the one complaining about the presbyter will of course be more careful in his words against the presbyter than in the case where he would be alone with the bishop. If the presbyter proves to be truly guilty, he should be rebuked before all other presbyters, so as thereby to protect the latter from repeating the same offenses for which the guilty presbyter has been rebuked.

1 Timothy 5:21. In the presence of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the elect angels, I charge you to keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing from partiality. 1 Timothy 5:22. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 1 Timothy 5:23. No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. The question of judgment concerning presbyters is so important that the apostle solemnly charges Timothy by God, Christ, and the angels nearest to God’s throne (“the elect” ones) that he remember the instruction just made by him. Timothy must be free from any bias in examining accusations brought against presbyters. Timothy should also not be hasty in ordaining people to various church offices, and first of all to the presbytery, because a person insufficiently prepared for presbyterial service can commit many offenses, the moral responsibility for which should fairly lie also on the bishop who ordained such a person... But besides responsibility for others’ sins, a bishop can be subject to judgment for his own personal sins, and the apostle impresses on Timothy that he keep himself pure. However, Timothy should not be overly strict toward himself: he can use a little wine to strengthen his stomach (red wine is given by doctors in cases of weak stomach as an astringent), whereas it seems Timothy did not want to drink wine at all out of fear that he might be reproached for self-indulgence...

1 Timothy 5:24. The sins of some people are evident, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others follow later. 1 Timothy 5:25. So also good works are evident, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. The apostle concludes his address to Timothy with some consolation for him. Since, indeed, Timothy could be reproached for his use of wine, the apostle reassures him that his true motivation, by which he will drink wine, will not escape the eyes of the All-Just Judge. Thus the sins of some people are evident now to all, while in others such same sins are hidden; nevertheless these hidden sins will in time—at the last judgment—be revealed. And a person should fear not human judgment but God’s judgment.