The Letters · New Testament
1 Timothy 5
1 Timothy 5: widows, elders and how to treat people in the congregation
General context
Timothy is told to intreat an elder as a father rather than rebuke him, and to treat younger men as brethren, elder women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with all purity. The chapter then turns to widows. Those who are widows indeed are to be honoured, but a widow with children or nephews is supported by them, who should shew piety at home and requite their parents. A widow indeed is called desolate, praying night and day, while she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth, and anyone not providing for his own household has denied the faith. A widow is not taken into the number under sixty years old, and must have been the wife of one man and well reported of for good works, from bringing up children to washing the saints' feet. Younger widows are refused, since the writer says they will marry and cast off their first faith, learn to be idle and become tattlers also and busybodies; he would rather they marry, bear children and guide the house, and says some are already turned aside after Satan. Families with widows should relieve them so the church is not charged. Elders who rule well get double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine, with two lines of scripture quoted in support. An accusation against an elder requires two or three witnesses. Timothy is charged before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels to act without partiality, lay hands suddenly on no man, keep himself pure, and use a little wine for his stomach. Some sins and good works, the chapter ends, are open beforehand and others follow after.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:2, 1 Timothy 5:3, 1 Timothy 5:4, 1 Timothy 5:5, 1 Timothy 5:6, 1 Timothy 5:7, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Timothy 5:9, 1 Timothy 5:10, 1 Timothy 5:11, 1 Timothy 5:12, 1 Timothy 5:13, 1 Timothy 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:16, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:18, 1 Timothy 5:19, 1 Timothy 5:20, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 5:22, 1 Timothy 5:23, 1 Timothy 5:24, 1 Timothy 5:25
1 Timothy 5 (KJV)
1Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
6But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
7And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
23Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
24Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise can not be hid.
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Historical context
The chapter establishes an organized arrangement in the congregation. Widows are placed on a roll with stated conditions, Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, and the text distinguishes them from widows whose families can support them. Elders are to receive double honour, and two lines are quoted as scripture, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn and The labourer is worthy of his reward, without either source being named. A procedure for accusations is stated, before two or three witnesses. One personal detail about Timothy is given, his stomach's sake and thine often infirmities, with no illness named. What the chapter does not supply: any widow or elder by name, the size of the roll, who paid the honour, or what occasioned the sharp instruction about younger widows beyond the writer's statement that some are already turned aside after Satan.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 5:9, 1 Timothy 5:15, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:18, 1 Timothy 5:19, 1 Timothy 5:23
Literary context
Family words set the terms before any rule is given, a father, brethren, mothers, sisters, and the practical instructions that follow keep returning to households, to widows with children or nephews and to providing for those of his own house. Repetition marks off the widow section, where widows indeed is used three times as a test. The qualifying list is built from repeated conditions, if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, which makes a record of deeds rather than a list of traits. The charge formula from the letter's first chapter returns in stronger form, I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels. The chapter closes on a matched pair rather than a command, sins and good works, some seen beforehand and some not, which leaves the judging unfinished.
Cited passages: 1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:2, 1 Timothy 5:3, 1 Timothy 5:5, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Timothy 5:10, 1 Timothy 5:16, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 5:24, 1 Timothy 5:25
Key moments
- Intreat, do not rebuke (1 Timothy 5:1). Timothy is told how to speak to older and younger people.
- Widows indeed (1 Timothy 5:3). A distinction is drawn among widows for support.
- Provide for your own (1 Timothy 5:8). Failing to provide for a household is called denying the faith.
- The roll of widows (1 Timothy 5:9). An age and conduct requirement is stated for enrollment.
- Younger widows refused (1 Timothy 5:11). The writer gives his reasons for excluding them from the roll.
- Double honour for elders (1 Timothy 5:17). Elders who rule and teach well are to be honoured.
- A charge without partiality (1 Timothy 5:21). Timothy is charged before God and the elect angels.
For reflection
The chapter divides widows by age, family and conduct before deciding who the congregation supports. What does it cost a community to draw a line like that, and what does it cost to have none?
