I Timothy

By Joyce Webb 2024

Chapter 5   Verse 1-  2 5

Verse 1 Paul tells Timothy—-Speak to an older man with respect—- like he was your father.
Speak to the younger men—like they were your brothers.

Verse 2 Speak to an older women like she was your mother.
Speak to the younger women —-like they were your sisters.

Verse 3 Show honor to women who are widows (their husbands have died).
Paul adds a note—”those that are widows indeed” or widows who are truly widows.

(It seems some widows were pretending that they were poor and needed help—–when they really had enough to take care of themselves.)

Verse 4 Paul said—if any of the widows have children, or nephews—(family –relatives) they should be the ones taking care of them.

Verse 5 A woman who is a widow and in need—and has no one to help her—she must trust God to help her. That is the person the church people should help.

Verse 6 (Paul seems to be speaking about widows who are using their money to buy fancy things, expensive foods, —not being careful and wise about spending.)

Verse 7 Give the church leaders these instructions—so they can use the church money wisely.
Verse 8 If the family of a widow—will not take care of his own relative—he is not obeying Christ’s teachings.   He is worse than a non-believer.

Verse 9 Do not put a widow’s name on the list to be helped unless she is : 60 years old or older—-having been the wife of one man.
(Meaning—she was faithful to her husband.)

Vs. 10 Other things to consider:

Has she been a person who does good “works”—helps others.

Has she raised her children well and proper?

Has she been willing to welcome people into her home—perhaps let them stay overnight.

(Remember—in those days, there were no motels, hotels, and few inns —-that mostly men stayed in.)

Has she “washed the saints’ feet”—meaning —has she been willing to be a servant and serve others.

(It seems the churches may have had a custom of “washing each others’ feet”—-like Christ did for the disciples. Some churches then and even today—have a ceremony time when they do this in their church.

The purpose is for a person to show that he is willing to do this humble job –that was a servant’s job.

If a leader of a church—or others— is willing to do a servant’s job—it helps him stay humble and not get a “big head” that he is too high up to do such things.)

Has this widow been helpful to those who are sick?

Has she been a person who is willing to help others and do other kinds of good “works”?

Verse 11-13 For widows who are younger—than 60—it is best not to help them.

Paul said—many of them leave the faith—and begin to act like non-believers—doing things they should not.

They do not do good “works”, they spend their time talking and visiting and gossiping—and saying bad things about others.

They should get married again.

Verse 14 They should marry again, have children, take care of the family and not do such silly empty things.

Then no one will be able to criticize them.

Verse 15 Some of the young widow are already following Satan.

Meaning—doing things that non-believers do. It seems Paul means they are flirting with men and do things they should not.

Verse 16 If a widow has family members who can help her—they should take care of her. Then the church can use their money to help the widows who have no one.

Verse 17 Elders (leaders) who lead the church, preach and teach—should be paid well.

Verse 18 The scriptures say that the “you should not put a muzzle on an ox that treads out the grain“.

Meaning—-the ox is working hard pushing a mill stone or is doing another job of separating the grain and stems—it should be able to eat some of the grain as it is working.

Do not cover its mouth with a cloth or mask so it can not eat. It is working hard—so let it eat some of the grain.

Vs. 19 If a leader (elder) is blamed for something—get 2 or 3 witnesses—-before you blame him.

Vs. 20 If it is true—and the leader has done this thing—he should be corrected— and it should be told to the group—so that others may have fear of doing wrong also.

Vs. 21 Paul said, Timothy, I am telling you these things and giving you the responsibility of doing them. God knows, and Jesus knows, and so do the angels. They are witnesses.

Do these things. Do not show special favor to one person over another.

Vs. 22 Do not “lay hands on a man suddenly”—-meaning—do not be quick to choose a man to lead—and lay hands on him and pray and make him a leader.

Take time to be sure the man is worthy to be a leader before you choose him.

Do not share and join in with another man’s sin.

Keep yourself pure.

Vs. 23 Don’t drink only water—use a little wine for your stomach’s sake—it will help some of your health problems.

Vs. 24 Some men’s sin are open for all to see. And judgment comes to them immediately. For others—judgment comes later.

Vs. 25 This true about good works, too. Sometimes we see the good things people do for others. Sometimes we don’t know the good things others have done until a long time later.