1 Timothy 6: Timothy 5:1-2: Paul Addresses Timothy s Proper Conduct with Respect To Older and Younger Men

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1 1 Timothy 6:1-2 1 Timothy 6:1-Christian Slaves Are To Regard Their Masters As Deserving Of Total Respect So That The Reputation Of God, Specifically His Teaching Won t Be Slandered 1 Timothy 5:1-2: Paul Addresses Timothy s Proper Conduct with Respect To Older and Younger Men In 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2, the apostle Paul gives instructions to Timothy with regards to various groups in the Ephesian Christian community. In 1 Timothy 5:1-2, he gives instructions to Timothy with regards to his proper treatment of older and younger men and women in the church. This is followed by an extended discussion of a problem concerning widows in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. Then, in 1 Timothy 5:17-25, he addresses the proper treatment of elders and need to exercise caution when ordaining men to be overseers. Lastly, in Timothy 6:1-2, the apostle discusses the proper conduct of Christian slaves towards their masters. By these instructions, Paul is describing the Christian community as a family that is to operate according to God s love by the power of the Spirit. The members of this family are to show proper respect and honor toward each other. This family has responsibilities and an authority structure build into it. In 1 Timothy 5:1, Paul instructs his young delegate Timothy as to how to conduct himself with regards to both older and younger men. 1 Timothy 5:1 Do not severely reprimand an older man but rather continue making it your habit of appealing to them as a father, younger men as brothers. (My translation) This verse contains a prohibition and is followed up with a command. The former tells Timothy what not to do with regards to older Christian men whereas the latter what he is to do with regards to not only older men but also younger men in the Christian community. An older man is the adjective presbuteros is not referring to overseers, i.e. pastor-teachers or those with the gift of administrations, i.e. leadership as it does in 1 Timothy 5:17 and 19. Rather the word in verse 1 is describing males in the Christian community who were older. This is indicated by the fact that the plural form of the word appears in verse 2 with reference to the older women in the Christian community. 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 make clear that women were prohibited from exercising authority and teaching men in the local assembly. Thus, the feminine form of presbuteros in verse 2 is referring to older women and not women pastors, i.e. overseers. Therefore, presbuteros in 1 Timothy 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 5:1 is referring to the older men in the Christian community. This word refers to a man who has reached his forties or was forty-six years of age or older The prohibition do not severely reprimand an older man is prohibiting Timothy severely reprimanding or rebuking an older Christian man. It makes no comment as to whether Timothy was in fact guilty of severely reprimanding older men in the Christian community. However, Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 indicate that Timothy was carrying out everything he wrote in this epistle. Thus, the prohibition here in 1 Timothy 5:1 is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia. Furthermore, Paul would not have delegated Timothy such a difficult task as the one in Ephesus unless he felt confident that his young delegate could carry out everything he required of him. But rather continue making it your habit of appealing to them as a father is a strong emphatic adversative clause and stands in direct contrast with the previous prohibition for Timothy to not severely reprimanding an older Christian man. This command calls for Timothy to appeal to older Christian men as if they were his father in the sense of showing the respect and honor as he would with his own father. Therefore, the emphatic contrast is between Timothy severely reprimanding an older Christian man and treating older Christian men as if they were his father, with all honor and respect. This command denotes that Timothy is to ask earnestly that an older Christian man abandon ungodly behavior in contrast to severely reprimanding him for this behavior. He is to appeal to older Christian men as if they were his own father, thus they were to be treated with the utmost respect and with honor. This command speaks of Timothy appealing to the older Christian men when they are conducting themselves in an ungodly fashion in the sense of bringing to their attention that such behavior is wrong but doing so by treating them with honor and respect so as to illicit a positive response to such an appeal. Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 indicate that Timothy was carrying out everything he wrote in this epistle including this command. Thus, this command here in 1 Timothy 5:1 is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia. Furthermore, Paul would not have delegated Timothy such a difficult task as the one in Ephesus unless he felt confident that his young delegate could carry out everything he required of him. Therefore, the present imperative is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what Paul told him to do before he left for Macedonia. As a father marks the manner in which Timothy was to treat older Christian men. He was to treat them as if they were his own biological father. Thus, the implication is that he was to treat them with the utmost respect and with great 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 honor since this was the case in Graeco-Roman society and the Jewish family in the first century. Younger men is the adjective neos, which refers to Christian men who have not reached the age of forty or forty-six which marked an older man. It is not referring to men younger than Timothy but those who were younger in comparison to those who were considered older by Graeco-Roman and Jewish society. As brothers marks the manner in which Timothy was to treat younger Christian men. He was to treat them as if they were his own biological brothers. The idea behind the word is that Timothy is to treat younger Christian men as his peers and not as inferiors. This however, does not diminish his authority as a pastor or as Paul s delegate to the Ephesian Christian community. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:2 continues his thought from 1 Timothy 5:1 by addressing Timothy s proper conduct with respect to older and younger women in the Christian community in Ephesus. 1 Timothy 5:2 Continue making it your habit of appealing to older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. (My translation) This verse teaches that when the need arises, Timothy is ask earnestly older Christian women to abandon ungodly behavior in contrast to severely reprimanding them. It denotes that he is to ask earnestly younger Christian women to abandon ungodly behavior in contrast to severely reprimanding them. He is to appeal to older Christian women as if they were his own mother and younger Christian women as if they were his sisters. When the need arises, Paul wants Timothy to appeal to the older and younger Christian women when they are conducting themselves in an ungodly fashion in the sense of bringing to their attention that such behavior is wrong but doing so by treating them with honor and respect so as to illicit a positive response to such an appeal. Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 indicate that Timothy was carrying out everything he wrote in this epistle including this command in 1 Timothy 5:2. Thus, this command is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia. Furthermore, Paul would not have delegated Timothy such a difficult task as the one in Ephesus unless he felt confident that his young delegate could carry out everything he required of him. Therefore, this command is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what Paul told him to do before he left for Macedonia. Older women is referring to those women who were either forty years of age and older or forty-six and older. As mothers marks the manner in which Timothy was to treat older Christian women. He was to treat older Christian women as if they were his own biological mother. Thus, the implication is that he was to treat them with the utmost respect 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 and with great honor since this was the case in Graeco-Roman society and the Jewish family in the first century. Younger women refers to Christian women who have not yet reached the age of forty or forty-six, which marked an older women. It is not referring to women younger than Timothy but those who were younger in comparison to those who were considered older by Graeco-Roman and Jewish society. As sisters marks the manner in which Timothy was to treat younger Christian women. He was to treat them as if they were his own biological sisters. The idea behind the word is that Timothy is to treat younger Christian women as his peers and not as inferiors. This however, does not diminish his authority as a pastor or as Paul s delegate to the Ephesian Christian community. With absolute purity refers to Timothy conforming his behavior to the holy standards of the gospel with regards to women in the Ephesian Christian community. It refers to conforming one s behavior to the holy standards of the gospel with regards to sexual behavior. It denotes that sexual purity was the manner in which Timothy was to conduct himself with respect to younger Christian women. Paul wants Timothy to perfectly embody sexual purity with respect to younger Christian women. 1 Timothy 5:3-16: Paul Addresses the Problem of Widows In 1 Timothy 5:3-16, the apostle Paul instructs Timothy with regards to handling the problems with widows. This discussion is the most extensive of any group in the entire epistle. This indicates that this was a significant problem in the Ephesian Christian community and expresses an urgency for this situation to be dealt with promptly and correctly. In this pericope, Paul identifies four different types of widows: (1) Real widows who are in need and have no relatives to support them financially and are at least sixty years of age and have lived a godly life (verses 3, 5, 9-10, 16b). (2) Widows who have relatives who can support them financially (verses 4, 8, 16a). (3) Widows who have a self-indulgent lifestyle (verses 6-7). (4) Young widows (verses 11-15). Paul teaches that only the first group is to be supported financially by the Ephesian Christian community. The relatives and the children of the second group were responsible to financially support this category of widows. The third group was not worthy of financial support. The fourth group was to remarry, not only so as to be supported by their husbands but to keep them occupied so that they do not become busybodies and gossips. The apostle did not want the church to waste its financial resources on people who were really not in need William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 Therefore, in 1 Timothy 5:3-16, the apostle Paul instructs Timothy as to which widows should be enrolled to receive benefits from the church and who should not. This is not an official order of widows because since this passage does not address the duties of widows but rather simply the qualifications that must be met by widows in order for them to be supported by the church. This compassionate concern for widows is rooted in the teaching of the Old Testament, which of course reflects the Lord s concern for them (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 24:17; Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 1:17; Malachi 3:5) and was adopted by the first century apostolic church (Acts 6:1; James 1:27). In fact, the office of deacon in the first century apostolic church came into existence to deal with the problem of the caring of widows in the Christian community (Acts 6:1-10). In 1 Timothy 5:3-16, Paul is emphasizing the need for discernment in the sense that the church was not responsible to care for every widow but rather only those who had no family or relatives to support them and were thus truly alone. This passage also harkens back to 1 Timothy 2:9-15 in that it rebukes women who were imitating the lifestyle of the new type of woman emerging in certain social circles in Rome and throughout the Empire. We call these women liberated here in the 21 st century. In 1 Timothy 5:3-16, Paul rejects such a lifestyle for a Christian woman and stipulated that it disqualifies Christian widows from receiving assistance from the church. 1 Timothy 5:3 Continue making it your habit of honoring widows who are truly widows. (My translation) This verse begins a pericope that ends in 1 Timothy 5:16 and addresses the issue of which widows in the Ephesian Christian community who were eligible to receive financial as well as material aid from the church. It contains the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize the prohibition in 1 Timothy 5:3 in the sense that he wants Timothy to dwell upon it and obey it. This figure emphasizes the importance of this command for the Christian community in Ephesus. Widows refers to a woman whose husband has died. Specifically, it refers to a special category of widows, namely those who are not receiving financial and material support from their children or relatives. It refers to those who are in need financially because they have no children or relatives to support them financially and are at least sixty years of age and have lived a godly life (verses 3, 5, 9-10, 16b). Continue making it your habit of honoring refers to providing for widows financially who have no children or relatives to support them as an expression of honoring them. Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 imply that Timothy was carrying out everything he wrote in this epistle including this command. Thus, this command here in 1 Timothy 5:3 is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia. It is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what Paul told him to do before he left for Macedonia. Who are truly widows refers to those widows who meet the qualifications presented by Paul in this pericope making them eligible for financial aid from the church but does not deny that other widows are not in the normal sense of the word. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:4 teaches that a spiritual principle that the children and grandchildren of a widow must first learn to fulfill their financial obligations to her, which is pleasing in the sight of God. 1 Timothy 5:4 However, If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that some widow does possess children or grandchildren and we are agree that there those who do, then they must first discipline themselves in making it their habit of receiving instruction in order to exercise godliness with their own family. Specifically, in order to fulfill obligations for the benefit of their parents/grandparents because this is, as an eternal spiritual truth pleasingly acceptable in the judgment of God the Father. (My translation) 1 Timothy 5:4 is an adversative clause that contrasts the Christian community in Ephesus providing for widows who do not have children or relatives to support them and not having to do so for those who do possess children or grandchildren. This verse is divided into four parts. The first is the protasis of a first class condition. The protasis is: If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that some widow does possess children or grandchildren and we are agree that there those who do. The second is the apodasis. The apodasis: then they must first discipline themselves in making it their habit of receiving instruction in order to exercise godliness with their own family. The third is connected to the second and is an epexegetical clause that explains in greater detail the second part. The epexegetical clause: Specifically, in order to fulfill obligations for the benefit of their parents/grandparents. The fourth is connected to the epexegetical clause and presents the reason for the epexegetical clause and thus the apodasis of the first class condition. The causal clause: because this is, as an eternal spiritual truth pleasingly acceptable in the judgment of God the Father. The first class conditional statement contains a spiritual principle that teaches that Christian children and grandchildren must discipline themselves in making it 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 their habit of receiving instruction in order to exercise godliness with their own family. The protasis refers to no particular Christian widow. She is hypothetical. It is speaking of those widows who have children or grandchildren who can support them in contrast to those mentioned in verse 3 who do not have children or relatives to support them. Therefore, it refers to a Christian widow who does not qualify to receive financial aid from the Christian community in Ephesus. It is referring to a hypothetical Christian widow in order to teach a spiritual principle that is always applicable for Christians. Children is the noun teknon, which speaks of the offspring or children of no particular Christian widow or a hypothetical Christian widow. Grandchildren refers to the grandchildren of Christian widows. The apodasis indicates that Paul is commanding that the children and grandchildren of widows must be taught as to their responsibilities with respect to their mothers and grandmothers. It refers to the act of carefully communicating and instructing the children and grandchildren of widows in face to face manner with regard to their responsibilities to their mothers and grandmothers. This would involve teaching the implications of the commandment in Exodus 20:12 to honor one s father and mother. It is communicating the authoritative proclamation of God s will to Christian children and grandchildren with respect to their responsibilities to their mothers and grandmothers. The apodasis teaches that children and grandchildren of Christian widows are to acquire information regarding their responsibilities to their mother and grandmother. It means that they are to receive instruction regarding the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. It means that they are to be furnished with knowledge of Christ through a systematic method of teaching. They were to be furnished with knowledge of the doctrines of Christ through the systematic method of teaching the Word of God. They were to be educated in the teachings of Christ with regards to a Christian s responsibilities to their mother and grandmother. They were to be trained in the doctrines of Christ through the systematic method of teaching of the Word of God. It indicates that they were to receive authoritative instructions from their pastor-teachers regarding their conduct as Christians. The apodasis indicates that as a general precept, Christian children and grandchildren must receive biblical instruction with regards to their responsibility to support financially their mother and grandmother. It denotes that they are to be characterized as receiving biblical instruction from their pastor-teachers with regards to their responsibility to financially aid their mother and grandmother. It does not say either that Christian children were receiving this instruction or not but simply is used to teach a spiritual principle William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 First is the adjective protos, which emphasizes that the importance that children and grandchildren of widows learn through instruction their duties financially to their mothers and grandmothers. It emphasizes that this instruction must first take place before they can exercise godliness in their own family or in other words, it must first take place before they can repay their mother and grandmother and thus please God. In order to exercise godliness with their own family is a purpose clause that teaches that the purpose of Christian children and grandchildren exercising godliness in their own families by providing for their financial needs of one s mother or grandmother is the purpose of their receiving instruction to do so. It refers to children and grandchildren of widows living the Christian way of life, which is experiencing eternal life by appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian is crucified, died, buried, raised and seated with Christ. By providing financially for their widowed mothers or grandmothers, they would be living the Christian way of life. It refers to conduct that honors God because it is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, ways and will. Thus, by providing for their widowed mothers and grandmothers, Christian children would be honoring God because doing so is according to His will and is in obedience to His command to honor one s mother. This conduct expresses not only one s reverence for one s mother or grandmother but also expresses one s reverence for God and is thus an act of worshipping Him. This purpose clause refers to the act of worshipping God by obeying His command to honor one s mother and is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit and is based upon an accurate knowledge of His character, will, and ways. It is based upon faith in His Word resulting in obedience to His commands and prohibitions by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the act of worshipping God through one s conduct that is based upon knowledge of and faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to God s Word, which reveals His character, ways and will. It refers to the act of worshipping God by obeying His command to honor one s mother, which is direct result of being instructed to do so. The attitude of the Christian must be based upon knowledge of and faith in God s Word. Thus, Paul emphasizes that Christian children and grandchildren must first learn about their responsibilities towards their widowed mothers and grandmothers before they can conduct themselves in a godly manner. This will result in conduct that is in obedience to God whose will is for them to provide for their widowed mothers and grandmothers. This conduct honors God and is an act of worshipping Him. This purpose clause refers to proper Christian conduct that is produced by the Holy Spirit as a result of exercising faith in the Word of God resulting in obedience to the Word of God. Therefore, it speaks of the Christian experiencing their 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 sanctification and their deliverance from the sin nature, Satan and his cosmic system. It is conducting one s life according to God s Word, which reveals God s will, character and nature and ways. This clause indicates that by the power of the Holy Spirit the children and grandchildren of Christian widows are conducting themselves according to the Father s will by providing financially for them. This is the direct result of conforming their attitude to the will of the Father as a result of faith in the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God. The Christian s faith in the Word of God appropriates the power of the Holy Spirit resulting in conformity of their attitude and conduct to the will of the Father, which is revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God. This constitutes worshipping God. This purpose clause refers to appropriating by faith the Spirit s teaching in the Word of God that the Christian children and grandchildren are to provide for the financial needs of their mothers and grandmothers. This results in obedience to the command to honor one s mother. It also results in godly conduct that honors the Father and reflects His perfect norms and standards. Also, it manifests the character of Christ in the life of the believer as well as the omnipotence of God in that exercising faith in the Spirit s teaching that a Christian must provide financially for their mothers and grandmothers appropriates the omnipotence of God. The epexegetical clause specifically, in order to fulfill obligations for the benefit of their parents/grandparents explains in greater detail what Paul means by his previous statement that children and grandchildren of widows are to exercise godliness with their own families. This clause refers to the children and grandchildren of widows fulfilling their financial obligations to their parents and grandparents. This would be an exercise of godliness towards one s own family. It refers to repaying one s widowed parents and grandparents in the sense of returning of the care and financial support received from them when they were children and young adults. It indicates that Christian children and grandchildren exercising godliness in their own families by fulfilling their financial obligations to their parents and grandparents is the purpose of Christian children and grandchildren receiving instruction to do so. The causal clause because this is, as an eternal spiritual truth pleasingly acceptable in the judgment of God the Father presents the reason why Paul wants the children and grandchildren of widows to fulfill their financial obligations to them. It indicates that fulfilling one s financial obligations to one s parents and grandparents is pleasing in view of its being acceptable to the Father since this is according to His will and an exercise of godliness and honors Him and expresses one s reverence for not only one s parents and grandparents but God the Father Himself William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 This clause is making the assertion that it is acceptable in the judgment of the Father for Christians to fulfill their financial obligations to their parents and grandparents. It is according to the will of the Father. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:5 presents three qualifications that identify a widow who is to be supported by the church financially. 1 Timothy 5:5 However, she who is truly a widow, specifically, she who is left alone possesses a confident expectation of blessing because of God the Father s promises. Also, she makes it her habit of persevering by means of specific detailed requests (for herself and others) as well as by means of reverential prayers during the night as well as during the day. (My translation) The apostle Paul in this verse presents three qualifications that identify a widow who is to be supported by the church financially. This verse stands in contrast with his statement in verse 4, which taught that the children and grandchildren of a Christian widow must learn through instruction their responsibilities to support financially their parents and grandparents. This would constitute exercising godliness with their own family and is pleasingly acceptable to the Father. Here in verse 5, Paul returns the subject of widows who truly are in need of financial support and presents three qualifications that identify to the church in Ephesus which type of widow is to be supported by the church financially. Therefore, the contrast is between those widows who have family members who can support them and those who do not and are thus qualified to receive financial aid from the church. She who is truly a widow refers to a widow who does not have children or relatives to support them financially and materially. She is a widow in the truest sense meaning that they meet the qualifications presented by Paul in this verse making them eligible for financial aid from the church. It does not however deny that others are widows in the normal sense of the word but rather it is used to signify those who qualify for the church s care. Specifically, she who is left alone presents the first qualification and is epexegetical meaning that it defines in detail a widow who is one in the truest sense in that she is qualified for financial support from the church. It is not describing a woman whose husband has died, though this is clearly implied but rather it is describing a widow who has no children or grandchildren or family members to support her financially. Possesses a confident expectation of blessing presents the second qualification and describes a true widow as one who confidently expects to receive Logistical grace blessing from God, i.e. His provision to meet one s daily needs (Matthew 6:25-34; Hebrews 13:5; cf. Deuteronomy 10:18; Proverbs 15:25; Luke 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 7:11-15; 8:1-8) and rewards for faithful service (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; James 1:12; Revelation 2:7, 10, 17). It refers to her confident expectation of receiving God s daily provision and rewards for faithful service as a result of the past action of accepting by faith the Spirit s revelation from the Father that appears in the Word of God that the Father would provide for her daily needs and reward her for faithful service. In other words, she possesses a confident expectation that the Father would provide her daily needs and reward her for faithful service because she has accepted by faith the Spirit s revelation from the Father in the Word of God that would provide for her daily needs and reward her for faithful service. This revelation declared that they would be provided by God on a daily basis and would reward her for faithful service. Because of God the Father s promises indicates that a widow in the truest sense possesses a confident expectation of blessing because of the Father s promises. Also, she makes it her habit of persevering by means of specific detailed requests (for herself and others) as well as by means of reverential prayers during the night as well as during the day reveals the third and final qualification and expresses the fact that a true widow is one who perseveres in prayer for others despite of difficulties and hardships related to being a Christian widow. By means of specific detailed requests refers to two essential elements of a productive prayer life, namely, petition and intercessory prayer. It refers to specific detailed requests offered up to the Father by a widow on behalf of herself. Thus, it speaks of petitions for one s own needs. It also refers to intercessory prayer on behalf of other Christians and non-believers. This prepositional phrase indicates that specific detailed requests, in the form of petitions and intercessory prayers, are the means by which a true widow perseveres. By means of reverential prayers refers to petitions offered up to the Father on behalf of one s self but from the perspective that it is an expression of worshipping God and dependence upon Him. Therefore, Paul is saying that one of the marks of a widow who is qualified to receive financial support from the church is a woman who preserves by means of worshipful prayers or reverential prayers. When the widow offers up petitions for herself, she is acknowledging to the Father her total and absolute dependence upon Him to meet her daily needs and is thus worshipping Him. Proseuche emphasizes her worshipful attitude toward the Father and expresses her dependence upon Him to meet her daily needs. This prepositional phrase indicates that reverential prayers offered up to the Father by a widow is the means by which she perseveres William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 During the night as well as during the day emphasizes the dedication and devotion of a true widow to praying for her own needs as well as others. Next, the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:6 teaches that in contrast to the godly widow who is qualified to receive financial support from the church, the widow who possesses a self-indulgent lifestyle is spiritually dead even while she is physically alive. 1 Timothy 5:6 However, she who possesses a self-indulgent lifestyle is experiencing temporal spiritual death even though she is physically alive. (My translation) 1 Timothy 5:6 is an adversative clause that presents a contrast to the previous statement in verse 5, which lists three qualifications that identify not only a godly widow but one who is qualified to receive financial support from the Ephesian Christian community. In this verse Paul teaches that a widow in the truest sense who is qualified to receive financial support is one who has no children or grandchildren of family members to help her. The second qualification is that she possesses a confident expectation of blessing because of God the Father s promises to provide for her and reward her for faithful service to the body of Christ. The third is that she makes it her habit of persevering by means of specific detailed requests for herself and others as well as reverential prayers to the Father during the night and day. Verse 6 identifies a second type of widow who is not qualified to receive financial support from the church. If you recall, in verse 4, the first type of widow that is not qualified to receive financial aid from the church is the widow who has children and grandchildren who can help her. Paul taught that the children and grandchildren of a widow must first learn to discipline themselves in making it their habit of receiving instruction in the Word of God in order to exercise godliness with their own family. Specifically, they are to do this by fulfilling their financial obligations to their parents and grandparents because this is pleasing to the Father since it is according to His will as revealed in Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:2. In verse 6, we have the second type of widow who is not to receive financial aid, namely, one who possesses a self-indulgent lifestyle as a result of habitually living according to the desires of her sin nature, which results in her habitually experiencing temporal spiritual death, i.e. loss of fellowship with God. Paul teaches that she might be physically alive but in reality she is experiencing temporal spiritual death and is out of fellowship with God. Therefore, the contrast in verses 5-6 is between the godly widow and the ungodly widow. The contrast is between a widow who is exercising faith in God s promises with the widow who is not. Or we can view this as a contrast between a widow who is exercising 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 godliness with one who is not. Or, a contrast between who is obedient to God and one who is not, one who is in fellowship and one who is not. She who possesses a self-indulgent lifestyle is the verb spatalao, which speaks of a widow who is wealthy and lives an extravagant lifestyle with no concern for those in need in the church. Thus, the fact that she possesses wealth disqualifies her from receiving financial support from the church. It is pointing back to the type of woman mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:9, which the women in the Ephesian Christian community were not to imitate. Therefore, this verb refers to the wealthy Christian woman who uses her wealthy self-indulgently without any concern for those in need and less fortunate. She uses her money to dress ostentatiously spending her money on extravagant hairstyles and expensive clothing. This reflects her inward condition as one who is out of fellowship with God and living according to the lusts of her indwelling sin nature. It also reflects in inward condition of rejecting the Word of God because of unbelief since disobedience to God is the result of unbelief in His promises. She stands in direct contrast to the widow who possesses a confident expectation of blessing because of God s promises to provide for her and reward her for faithful service to the body of Christ. It speaks of a Christian widow who does not serve the body of Christ because of her self-indulgent lifestyle that is the result of living according to the lusts of her sin nature. This type of Christian widow is described in greater detail in 1 Timothy 5: Is experiencing temporal spiritual death is the verb thnesko, which refers to temporal spiritual death or in other words, being out of fellowship with God. It is used of a Christian widow who is out of fellowship with God as a result of indulging the desires of her sin nature. This results in her living a self-indulgent lifestyle with no regard for the needs of others less fortunate. Even though she is physically alive is used of the ungodly Christian widow s existence on planet earth in the temporal human body contaminated by the sin nature. This existence would involve the believer s thoughts, words, actions and decisions. It implies that the ungodly widow is experiencing temporal spiritual death in spite of the fact that she is physically alive. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:7 commands Timothy to continue making it his habit of commanding the things he related to him in 1 Timothy 5:3-6 in order that the widows in Ephesus may be irreproachable. 1 Timothy 5:7 Continue making it your habit of commanding these things as well in order that they will be irreproachable in character. (My translation) The command continue making it your habit of commanding these things is used with reference to Paul s teaching in 1 Timothy 5:3-6. Specifically, it refers to Paul s commands in verse 3 and in verse 4. Therefore, Paul wants Timothy to command the Ephesians to comply with his command in verse 3 to honor 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 widows by supporting them financially who are qualified to receive financial support. It also means that Timothy is to command the Ephesians in verse 4 to instruct their children and grandchildren with regards to their responsibility to support their parents and grandparents (Exodus 20:12). In verse 5, he identifies a widow who is qualified to receive support and in verse 6, he identifies one who is not qualified. The former is godly and the latter is not. Therefore, these two verses are related to the first command in verse 3 since they help them to identify what widows the Ephesians should honor. Thus, these two verses aid the Ephesians in how they are to apply this command. This command implies that Paul has delegated authority to Timothy. It expresses the idea that Timothy is to stand before the Ephesian Christian community and officially and authoritatively communicate to them all that Paul taught in 1 Timothy 5:3-6. It used elsewhere by the apostle with respect to authoritative commands (1 Corinthians 7:10; cf. 11:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; cf. 4:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:4, 6, 10, 12; 1 Timothy 1:3). Paul s statements in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 4:6 imply that Timothy was carrying out everything he wrote in this epistle including this command. Thus, this command here in 1 Timothy 5:7 is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what they talked about before Paul left for Macedonia. Furthermore, Paul would not have delegated Timothy such a difficult task as the one in Ephesus unless he felt confident that his young delegate could carry out everything he required of him. Therefore, the present imperative is simply a reminder to Timothy to continue doing what Paul told him to do before he left for Macedonia. As well indicates that this command is in addition to the previous commands in this epistle that Timothy is to communicate to the Ephesian Christian community. The purpose clause in order that they will be irreproachable in character emphasizes the intention of the preceding command. It presents Paul s purpose for Timothy obeying his previous command to continue making it his habit of commanding the Ephesians to obey his commands in verses 3 and verse 4. It answers the question as to why? Paul wants Timothy to continue making it his habit of commanding the Ephesians to comply with his command in 1 Timothy 5:3 and 4. This purpose clause is referring to the entire Ephesian Christian community, which is indicated by the fact that the command that it is subordinated to is referring to Timothy passing along to the Ephesians his commands in verses 3 and 4. The first requires that the Ephesian Christian community honor widows who truly are qualified to receive financial support from them. Verses 5 and 6 help the Ephesians to identify which widows they were to honor and the ones they were not to support. The command in verse 4 is for the Ephesian Christian community to 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 instruct their children and grandchildren with regards to their financial responsibility to their parents and grandparents, which would enable these children and grandchildren to exercise godliness with their own families, i.e. support their parents and grandparents. Therefore, based upon this, it is clear that this purpose clause is referring to the entire Christian community in Ephesus since the two commands in verses 3 and 4 are addressed to the entire community. The entire community is required to honor widows who are truly in need and to instruct their children and grandchildren with regards to their responsibility to support their parents and grandparents financially. Irreproachable in character indicates that obedience to Paul s two commands in verses 3 and 4 that Timothy is to continue commanding the Ephesians will result in the Ephesians affording nothing that the unsaved could use as a basis for accusation against them and thus Christianity itself. It would impossible for the unsaved to bring any charge of wrongdoing against them and Christianity such as could stand impartial examination if they obey Paul s commands in verses 3 and 4. 1 Timothy 5:8 However, If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that someone absolutely does not provide for his own and especially the immediate family and we are agree that there are some who don t, then he himself is rejecting the Christian faith. Also, he, as an eternal spiritual truth does exist in the state of being worse than an unbeliever. (My translation) 1 Timothy 5:8 is an adversative clause that contains a first class conditional statement. This verse stands in contrast with verse 7 and the goal of the Ephesian Christian community being irreproachable in character before the unsaved. In this verse, Paul uses a first class conditional statement in order to teach a spiritual principle that a Christian must provide financially for his own family and to not do so is to reject the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever. This would bring reproach on them before the unbeliever and discredit the cause of Christ in Ephesus. Therefore, the contrast between verses 7 and 8 is that of the Ephesian Christian community being irreproachable as a result of obeying his commands in verses 3 and 4 with that of their bringing reproach upon themselves and the cause of Christ as a result of disobeying these commands and instructions which identify a widow who is to be supported and one that is not to be. 1 Timothy 5:8 is divided into two sections: (1) protasis: If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that someone absolutely does not provide for his own and especially the immediate family and we are agree that there are some who don t. (2) apodasis: then he himself is rejecting the Christian faith. Also, he, as an eternal spiritual truth does exist in the state of being worse than an unbeliever William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 The audience would respond to the protasis that there were Christians who were not taking care of their parents and grandparents who were in financial need. That this was going on is indicated by the fact that the church in Ephesus was suffering from poor leadership from many of their pastors who were in apostasy as noted in chapter one. They were seduced by the Judaizers false doctrine, which was described in 1 Timothy 4:1-5. This poor leadership not only resulted in ungodly conduct among these apostate pastors but also among those who obeyed their false doctrine. Furthermore, the Pharisees, from whom the Judaizers originate, were condemned by the Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 7 for rejecting the commandment to honor their father and mother so as to obey the commandments of men. Paul wrote Timothy to stop certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus from teaching false doctrine, which was the result of these apostate pastors being seduced away from the gospel by the false doctrine of the Judaizers. Consequently, this led astray many Christians resulting in ungodly conduct. Thus, the occasion of the epistle suggests strongly that many Christians in Ephesus were guilty of not taking care of their parents or grandparents financially and as a result were burdening the church. This was the result of being exposed to false doctrine that was being taught by certain unidentified pastors in Ephesus who were seduced by the false doctrine of the Judaizers and thus had rejected the Christian faith. Someone is the indefinite pronoun tis, which refers to a member of the body of Christ without further identification. Absolutely does not provide emphatically negates any idea of a Christian providing for financially those who are widows in one s own extended family (grandparents) and immediate family (parents). It indicates that a hypothetical Christian absolutely does not provide financially for those who are widows in his immediate and extended family. It indicates that Paul is referring to a hypothetical Christian in order to teach a spiritual principle that is always applicable for all Christians. His own refers to a Christian s extended family and corresponds to ekgonos, grandchildren in 1 Timothy 5:4. Especially the immediate family is used to single out those who are members of a Christian s immediate family, i.e. parents. It is emphasizing the Christian s responsibility to care for his own mother who is a widow. He himself is rejecting the Christian faith refers to the Christian refusing to obey the teaching of the Lord and the apostles, which constitutes the New Testament. It speaks of the Christian refusing to obey Christian doctrine, which requires honoring one s own parents, by not supporting them financially when they are in need. He, as an eternal spiritual truth does exist in the state of being worse than an unbeliever expresses a spiritual axiom. It is used to describe the severity of 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 the Christian s rejection of the Word of God and in particular their rejection of the command to honor one s father and mother by not providing for those widows in his immediate and extended family that are in need of financial aid. It implies that the unbeliever is characterized as taking care of the widows in their families when they are in need. The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:9-10 presents three qualifications that widows must meet in order to receive financial support from the church at Ephesus. In verse 9, he lists two and the third and final qualification is presented by Paul in verse 10, which he then elaborates further on, defining what he means by this qualification. 1 Timothy 5:9 A widow must continue to be put on the list if she can be demonstrated as not being less than sixty years of age, a one-man woman. (My translation) A widow refers to a woman whose husband has died. However, this time the context does not indicate whether the word refers to a widow who is qualified to receive financial aid or not. Rather, the word is used in a generic sense and speaks of any widow without further identification as to whether or not she is qualified to receive aid from the church. This is indicated by the fact that the word is used in relation to a list of three qualifications that serve as conditions that must be met in order for a widow to receive support. The command a widow must continue to be put on the list refers to enrolling or putting on a list those widows who meet the three qualifications here in verses It does not imply or indicate that the church in Ephesus in the first century under Paul s authority had an order of widows. This formal relationship was found in later centuries in the church. However, the word simply means that the widow was to enter into a much less formal relationship with the church. The context indicates that this relationship involved the church supporting her financially because she had no children or grandchildren to support them. If she can be demonstrated as not being less than sixty years of age, a oneman woman is a conditional clause that teaches that a widow can only be put on the list to receive financial support if she meets these two qualifications listed in verse 9 and the one listed in verse 10. In the ancient world, in the first century, the age of sixty was the recognized age of someone who was considered old whether a woman or a man. In Paul s day, sixty would be the age at which remarriage becomes less likely as a general rule (Knight, page 223; cf. 1 Timothy 5:11-12). Paul stipulates this age for two reasons. The first would eliminate those widows who were of a marriageable age and childbearing age, and severely diminishes the number of those for whom the church is financially responsible and the years they would be responsible for these women William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 A one-man woman emphasizes the character of the widow rather than her marital status. This expression speaks of marital fidelity and the absence of sexual immorality because of living a godly life. In 1 Timothy 5:10, Paul presents the third and final qualification, which he then elaborates further on, defining what he means by this qualification by presenting five examples of the third qualification. 1 Timothy 5:10 One who possesses a reputation because of excellent works: If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that she has raised children and we agree that there are some who have. If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that she has demonstrated hospitality and we agree that there are some who have. If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that she has washed the saint s feet and we agree that there are some who have. If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that she has helped those in distress and we agree that there are some who have. If and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that she has devoted herself to every kind of divine good of intrinsic quality and character and we agree that there are some who have. (My translation) This verse is divided into two major sections. One who possesses a reputation because of excellent works is the first and presents the third qualification that must be met if a widow is to receive financial support from the Christian community in Ephesus. The second contains five first class conditional statements that present five examples that serve as illustrations for the third qualification. The final conditional statement serves as a summarization of the first four conditional statements. One who possesses a reputation because of excellent works speaks of recognition by the Christian community that a widow possesses the characteristic of performing good deeds. It refers to the fact that the Christian community speaks well of a widow based upon their personal experience with her through the years that she is a person who performs good deeds for the benefit of others. Because of excellent works denotes that to be put on the list to receive support from the church a widow must possess a reputation in the Christian community because of good works. It tells the reader why she possesses a reputation in the Christian community. It tells the reader why she is well spoken of in the Christian community. It refers to actions performed by a widow during the course of her lifetime who is to be put on the list to receive financial support from the church. These actions or works were performed by the widow while she was in fellowship with God and were produced by the Holy Spirit when she exercised faith in the Word of God, which results in obedience to the will of the Father, which is revealed by the Spirit in the Word of God. It speaks of the works or actions that the Holy Spirit performed through a widow as a result of her obedience 2011 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18