1 Timothy 5:8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

If any provide not Food and raiment; for his own Poor relations; and especially those of his own house Των οικειων, his own domestics, those relations who live in his own family, and consequently are under his eye; he hath denied the faith Namely, by such a practice, which is utterly inconsistent with Christianity, which does not destroy, but perfects natural duties. Here we see, to disobey the precepts of the gospel, is to deny or renounce the faith of the gospel; from whence we infer, that the faith of the gospel includes obedience to its precepts; and is worse than an infidel Dr. Whitby shows here, by very apposite citations, that the heathen were sensible of the reasonableness and necessity of taking care of their near relations, and especially of their parents, when reduced to poverty and want. But “what has this to do with heaping up money for our children, for which it is often so impertinently alleged? But all men have their reasons for laying up money; one will go to hell for fear of want, another acts like a heathen, lest he should be worse than an infidel!” Wesley.

1 Timothy 5:8

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house,b he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.