This post will focus on 1 Timothy 5:1-6:10. This focuses on Paul’s presentation of the material by giving a brief summary of the sections.
For whatever reason, WordPress does not like the formatting of the original document I produced. I have tried to correct it as much as possible, however, I see the spacing is off between the bullet points.
Presentation Continued
V. Instructions Regarding Various Groups in the Church (5:1-6:10)
A. Proper Treatment for All Ages (5:1-2)
Paul recognizes that Timothy is a young and inexperienced pastor that needs to learn pastoral skills. In relating to men and women, both old and young, Paul offers Timothy guidance for how to communicate properly with the various age and gender groups of the church. As a young man, Paul encourages Timothy not to sharply rebuke a man or a woman, but to appeal to them as one would to one’s own father, mother, brother or sister. In addressing the sister, he is to do so in all purity which speaks to Paul’s earlier instructions of living above reproach and with integrity.
B. The Care for Widows (5:3-16)
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- Instructions for Older Widows (5:3-10)
Paul instructs Timothy to give priority toward the care of widows, especially regarding the church’s provisions for them, although certain qualifications had to be met. A widow who has a living family should be cared for by those family members or relatives, otherwise they will be perceived as denying the faith and is worse than unbelievers. Paul urges the widow’s relatives, specifically the children and grandchildren, to practice piety and relieve them if possible because this is pleasing to God. Paul identifies a true widow as one who has been left without family to care for her, depending on God as her hope which is expressed through continued prayers to Him. Regarding the independent and “self-indulgent widow” (5:6), Paul describes them as being spiritually dead. However, Paul instructs Timothy to teach these self-indulgent women the truths about dependence on God so that they might be above reproach. Next, Paul describes the qualification of a widow to be put on a list to receive care from the church. She is to be 60 years old or older, the wife of one man, and has a reputation for doing good works.
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- Instructions for Younger Widows (5:11-16)
Timothy is instructed to refuse to let the younger widows on the widow list because they disregard their commitment to Christ, desiring to marry and incurring condemnation for “abandoning their former faith” (5:12). At the same time, they should not be allowed on the list because the young widows learn to be idle speakers causing mischief and do not model godliness. Thus, Paul encourages the younger widows to remarry, bear children, take care of the home so that they give Satan “no occasion for reproach” (5:14), like the others who have already fallen into temptation. Paul concludes this section by showing his genuine concern for the widows. He asks that any woman that is a believer and has relatives who are widows, to continue to give assistance and care for them. Paul says this so that the church may properly care for the true widows.
C. The Discipline and Selection of Elders (5:17-25)
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- Reward for Worthy Elders (5:17-18)
Care must be taken for the elders who work hard and lead well because they are worthy of double honor and esteem. Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4 that just as an ox that is threshing should be allowed to eat, so the church should care for the elder that is leading well as he is worthy of reward.
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- Rebuking Sinful Elders (5:19-20)
Timothy should not accept a charge against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses that can confirm the charge. Any elder that continues to sin, Timothy is to rebuke them publicly so that the other elders may be fearful of falling into that sin.
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- Special Instructions to Timothy (5:21-25)
The apostle solemnly charges Timothy to keep these rules and guard against any type of partiality. All prospective elders are to be screened carefully and should not be appointed too quickly. Otherwise, Timothy and the other elders would share in the responsibility of the sin. Paul reminds Timothy once again he is to remain pure. Since Paul has already dealt with the false accusations from the false teachers about abstaining from certain foods (4:3), he urges Timothy to take care of his body by no longer exclusively drinking water but to drink a “little wine” (4:23) when necessary for medicinal purposes. Paul suggests to Timothy to be careful when selecting elders because sins are not always obvious at first. For some, judgment for the sin goes before the man, but for others, the sins will not be able to be concealed. On the other hand, good works are evident.
D. The Responsibility of Slaves (6:1-2)
Some scholars have described the placement of this paragraph in the book as somewhat problematic. It is possible that the false teachings that were being circulated during this time were putting significant tension on the master-slave relationship in the church.[1] Due to where this section is in the argument and the two proceeding sections, the concern seems to be the attitude among believers.[2] It is possible that problems have arisen “among some Christian slaves and their attitudes toward Christian masters similar to those among the younger widows.”[3] Paul instructs Timothy to teach and preach the principles of truth to the slaves who are believers by regarding their masters as worthy of honor so that the name of God and these teachings may not be spoken against. Slaves should be respectful of their masters, especially if the masters are believers as well, because they are brothers in Christ and should serve them with extra diligence and effort because they are both partakers of Christ’s free salvation.
E. Instructions Concerning False Teachers and Greed (6:3-10)
The false teachers have advocated a gospel that does not agree with the words of Christ Jesus and the doctrine that conforms to godliness. Instead, they are conceited and interested in controversy that leads to depraved minds and are “deprived of the truth” (6:5). They desire and see godliness as a way to feed their greed and achieve financial gain. Paul contrasts the false teacher’s attitude with a true and faithful attitude that displays how godliness is of great value and gain when a person is content. Paul gives two reasons for contentment, first, the material things of this world are finite and cannot be taken out of this world. Secondly, we are to be content as long as we have food and clothing. The false teachers pursue their greedy desire for riches, falling into temptation, and become trapped with many other “foolish and harmful desires” (6:9) that pull them and other people down into “ruin and destruction” (6:9). Paul supports his argument by confirming that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (6:10). Paul cites others as examples who have loved money so much that they denied the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
[1] Fee, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, 96.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.