1 Timothy 5 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Widows, elders and
slaves
5 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 honour, especially those whose work is preaching and
teaching. 18 For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it
is treading out the grain,’[a] and ‘The worker deserves his
wages.’[b] 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 favouritism.
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 for ever.
Who are really in need, v3
Who is really in need, v5
Who are really in need, v16
Do you get the picture?
1 Timothy 5 from Elim Missions
Paul gives guidelines on who to give to.
1. Don't give if others especially family members can
but who don't, v4.
2. Give to those who are asking God and whose trust
for the answer is in Him not those who are simply asking for help, v5.
3. Don't give to those who have, v6.
4. Only give within an agreed policy, v9 onwards.
5. Give within the context of your culture, v9
onwards, living in Ephesus in the first century was not like today, we need to
understand our culture.
6. Don't let giving become a burden too heavy to
bear, v16
7. Don't give because the person is your favourite,
v21
The
IVP New Testament Commentary Series
The
Christian Leader and Relationships (5:1-2)
As with an article of clothing, the church has its
seams, created naturally by age differences, gender differences, economic
differences and so on. These seams, where these various groups come together,
often show visible signs of stress. It falls to the Christian leader to cross
all these lines from time to time in order to minister effectively. But
crossing these lines requires sensitivity and care.
This section is loosely connected with the
preceding passage. Timothy, the minister, is still in view, but the topic
changes here to ministry in a more general sense. On the one hand, the minister
must carry out the task of ministry at every level of the church. The harsh
rebuke that Timothy is to avoid using is the depersonalizing
"tongue-lashing." This method of correction relies on fear and
authority and is often applied when feelings of anger and insecurity are
running high. Exhortation is a far more effective method of ministry. It
includes correcting, admonishing, encouraging and comforting. This kind of
ministry values the relationship between believers far above any need to assert
or prove lines of authority. It seeks to promote unity at (almost) all costs.
But more than a caring style of ministry is
required to cross with sensitivity the social lines indicated in these verses.
In Timothy's day, role relationships within and across social boundaries were
well defined. Respectability was determined by one's adherence to such rules of
behavior. Becoming a Christian by no means meant that these social rules ceased
to apply. On the contrary, all believers were to obey them (compare Tit
2:1-10). As models, Christian leaders, far from being above the rules, were all
the more bound by them.
These rules come clearly into play in these
instructions. First, in the course of ministry to older men, even if it be
correction (such as the Ephesian situation might have required), the minister
must treat them with the respect due a father (v. 1). Exhortation will
therefore be gentle and respectful.
Ministry to younger men (the same verb, "to
exhort," rather than the NIV treat, controls the passage)—or, in Timothy's
case, to peers—must similarly not lean on authority, but stress the common bond
in Christ.
Paul stresses equally that the rules governing
communication and interaction across gender lines must be observed. Ministry
here calls for sensitivity and caution. Older women are to be treated with the
respect due a mother (v. 2). In ministering to younger women, the male leader
has added need to make every effort to avoid giving the impression of unseemly
behavior: [exhort] younger women as sisters, with absolute purity (compare
4:12). Incidents of actual moral lapse under such circumstances warn that the
utmost care must be exercised here.
Paul urges an approach to ministry that values
relationships and personal involvement and applies to all cultures. Yet the
rules of respect in social relationships may vary somewhat from culture to
culture, and the church and its leaders must be sensitive to obey them.
Sensitive ministry will promote the church's unity and guard its witness to
those outside.
The
Bible Panorama
1
Timothy 5
V
1–2: APPROPRIATENESS OF ATTITUDES
Paul tells the younger man, Timothy, to treat older Christians with great
respect, as parents, and younger women as sisters, demonstrating purity.
V
3–16: WISDOM ABOUT WIDOWS Godly widows of sixty
years or over, who have proved their faithfulness to God in their lives, should
be cared for if there are no children or grandchildren to care for them.
However, younger capable widows should be encouraged to work, as this aid is
not to be used as an excuse for irresponsible women to be free to waste their
time and their energy in trivial pursuits. Believers should look after the
widows in their families.
V
17–20: ESTEEMING THE ELDERS Elders who rule well
should be doubly honoured, especially those who ‘labour in the word and
doctrine’. They should be supported materially and no accusation should be
heard unless there are two or three witnesses prepared to testify properly.
Open sin should be rebuked openly.
V
21–22: PREJUDICE AND PURITY Prejudice and partiality
should not affect the objective dealing with people who need to be disciplined
or challenged. But Timothy needs to be careful to keep himself pure and not to
be tainted by the sins of others.
V 23: SENSE ABOUT SICKNESS Timothy’s
frequent stomach troubles could have been caused by impure water. Paul
sanctions the use of ‘a little wine’ medicinally.
V
24–25: CAREFUL ABOUT CANDIDATES
Timothy needs to be aware that both those who sin publicly and those later
known to have sinned privately are accountable. This is probably written in the
context of Timothy’s quest to appoint spiritual men as elders in the church.
Whether such candidates are gifted or not is clearly secondary. If they fall at
the first and most important hurdles of obedience and spirituality, they cannot
be considered.
Encyclopedia
of The Bible
CHURCH, THE (ἐκκλησία, G1711). The Eng. word “church” with its cognate
form, “kirk,” is derived from the
Gr. word kyriakón, signifying “the Lord’s” or “belonging to the Lord.” The NT
equivalent ekklēsía was originally employed by the Greeks to denote
an assembly or congregation of free citizens summoned or “called out” by a herald in
connection with public affairs (Acts 19:39). Occasionally it was applied to an
assembly of any kind whether lawfully convened or not. In the LXX the
“congregation” of Israel is referred to as the ekklēsía, esp. when gathered before the Lord for religious
purposes (Deut 31:30; Acts 7:38). The Jews had been “called out” from the
nations to be God’s special people (Rom 9:4). In its simplest meaning the word
may be taken to denote the “assembly” or “congregation” of those who are the
recipients of His heavenly grace and have been “called out” to be Christ’s
witnesses in the world (1 Pet 2:9). K. L. Schmidt points out in his article in
Kittel’s Wörterbuch that the electorate (dēmos)
of a Gr. city-state were called out or summoned (ékklētoi) by the herald (kérux). “This naturally
suggests,”
he says, “that in the Bible the reference is to God calling men out of the
world.” Schmidt suggests that Gr.-speaking Jewish Christians may have begun to
use the term ekklēsía even before the Apostle Paul, since they were
anxious to distinguish their communities from the Jewish synagogues.
The actual word ekklēsía was used only twice
by the Lord Himself. The first occasion was when Peter uttered His great
confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi (Matt 16:16ff.), and the other
instance was in the context of instructions which the Lord gave His disciples
concerning their duty toward an offending brother (Matt 18:17).
In the apostolic writings the use of the word
becomes more common. Sometimes it is used to denote scattered groups of
Christians over a wide area, such as “the churches of Galatia” (Gal 1:2). On
other occasions it is used with reference to the body of Christians dwelling in
the same immediate locality such as “the church at Antioch” (Acts 13:1). A
small company of Christians meeting together in a house for worship and
edification also is referred to as a church (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15;
Philem 2). In no case is the word used with reference to a building in which
public worship is conducted. The word “church” is applicable essentially to
people, and in its broadest sense is used to describe “the company of the
faithful throughout all the world.”
It is significant that the word “synagogue” was
used originally to denote not a building but an assembly of people gathered
together for a specific purpose. It was later that the same word came to be
applied to the meeting house in which the congregation met for worship. James
uses both Gr. words, synagōgē and ekklēsía with reference to a
Christian congregation (James 2:2; 5:14). While Jews called their meeting for
worship a synagōgē,
and Christians used the term ekklēsía, both were showing
their historical continuity with the “congregation” of Israel, the OT church.
Dictionary
of Bible Themes
8210
commitment, to God’s people
Commitment to God means a commitment to his people.
Believers are meant to be nourished and supported by the church, and to work
towards its edification.
Commitment to the church
Ac 2:42; Eph 4:3-4; Col 3:15 Paul uses the picture
of the body to describe the interdependence of believers: Ro 12:4-10; 1Co
12:12-27
Commitment to other Christians is an expression of
love made known in Christ
Jn 13:34-35; Col 3:13-14; 1Pe 1:22 See also Jn
15:12,17; Ro 12:10,16; Ro 13:8; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:32-5:2; 1Th 3:12; 1Th 4:9; 2Th
1:3; Heb 13:1; 1Pe 2:17; 1Jn 3:11,23; 1Jn 4:7,21; 1Jn 5:2
Such commitment is expressed in mutual
responsibility and concern
Gal 6:2; Heb 10:24-25; 1Pe 3:8 See also Ro 14:13;
Ro 15:7,14; 1Co 1:10 Paul’s concern for unity among believers; Eph 5:21; Col
3:13 the responsibility of believers to forgive one another; Col 3:16; 1Ti
5:11; Heb 3:13; Jas 4:11; 1Pe 4:9; 1Pe 5:5
For its leaders, commitment to the church may prove
a joy and a burden
Ac 20:28 Paul speaking to the elders of the church
at Ephesus; 2Co 11:28 See also Col 1:24; 1Th 2:8; 1Th 5:12-13; 1Ti 3:1; Heb
13:17; 1Pe 5:1-3
1.
Commitment to the Church
Ephesians 4:2-6New International Version - UK
(NIVUK)
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the
Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as
you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in
all.
Colossians 3:12-17New International Version - UK
(NIVUK)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has
a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all
these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let
the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether
in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him.
2.
Commitment to other Christians is an expression of
love made known in Christ
John 13:33-35New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
33 ‘My children, I will be with you only a little
longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now:
where I am going, you cannot come.
34 ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As
I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’
1 John 3:16-23New International Version - UK
(NIVUK)
16 This is
how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought
to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material
possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how
can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with
words or speech but with actions and in truth.
19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth
and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 if our hearts condemn us,
we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear
friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and
receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what
pleases him. 23 And this is his command:
to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he
commanded us.
3.
Such commitment is expressed in mutual
responsibility and concern
Galatians 6:2-10New International Version - UK
(NIVUK)
2 Carry each
other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3 If
anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4
Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves
alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should
carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the
word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man
reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will
reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Romans 15:1-7New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
15 We who are
strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. 3
For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of
those who insult you have fallen on me.’[a] 4 For everything that was written
in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in
the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement
give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6
so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one
another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Be Blessed today
Yours by His Grace
For the sake of His Church and His Kingdom
Blair Humphreys
Southport,
Merseyside, England
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