CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
1 Timothy 5:4. Children or nephews.—R.V. “children or grandchildren.” “Descendants, or more specially, as the context implies, grandchildren—nephews in the original but now antiquated sense of the word” (Ellicott). Shew piety at home.—Another example of St. Paul’s natural religion. Filial piety is what he here enjoins.
1 Timothy 5:5. She that is a widow indeed.—Like old Anna who “departed not from the Temple”—left desolate for a long lifetime.
1 Timothy 5:6. She that liveth in pleasure.—R.V. “giveth herself to pleasure.” The only other use of the word in the New Testament is James 5:5.—an instructive parallel. Dead while she liveth.—As in the vivid thought of the East that which was certain was spoken of as actual, so St. Paul regards a wanton life as an actual death.
1 Timothy 5:8. If any provide not.—If he does not use his judgment to anticipate the needs. For his own, and specially for those of his own house.—This cuts at the root of the improvidence which might originate in the care of the Church, through the deacons, for those who were destitute. A man’s household must be his concern rather than that of the Church or the board of guardians.
1 Timothy 5:9. Let not a widow be taken into the number.—R.V. “Let none be enrolled as a widow.” It has been suggested that they were an order of widows who took the oversight of the younger women. Perhaps they acted as chaperons.
1 Timothy 5:10. Brought up children.—Whether her own children, or others left as orphans, it is not easy to decide. Lodged strangers.—R.V. “used hospitality to.” Not only with the possibility of finding angels (Hebrews 13:2) amongst them, but with the direct assurance that the Lord Himself, in His lowliest servant, was honoured.
1 Timothy 5:11. The younger widows refuse.—“They were not necessarily to be excluded from the alms of the Church, but were only to be held ineligible for the collegium viduarum” (Ellicott).
1 Timothy 5:13. Tattlers also, and busy-bodies.—Like Diotrephes—going about prating against St. John—these babblers give unrestrained licence to their tongues, and permit others no peace from their meddlesomeness.
1 Timothy 5:16. If any man or woman that believeth have widows.—How were the younger widows to be supported then? Let their relatives care for them rather than place them in a position to bring reproach on the community.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 1 Timothy 5:3-16
Widows and the Early Christian Church.
I. There was a distinction recognised between the different grades of widowhood.—In this paragraph four classes of widows are mentioned.
1. The widow indeed (1 Timothy 5:3; 1 Timothy 5:5). She is desolate, quite alone in the world. She has not only lost her husband, but is without children or any other near relative to provide for her needs. The Church must be to her in place of husband and family, and seek to mitigate as much as possible the oppressive loneliness of her life.
2. The widow with a family. “Children and grandchildren” (1 Timothy 5:4). It is the Christian duty of the members of the family to provide for the wants of the home (1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16). The Church must not burden itself with responsibilities that belong to others, and which they must be taught to discharge.
3. The widow living in pleasure. Gay, frivolous, and even worse (1 Timothy 5:6; 1 Timothy 5:11-15). Her young, passionate nature must be restrained, and be warned not to bring discredit and disgrace upon herself and the Church. 4. The enrolled widow (1 Timothy 5:9-10). She must be sixty years of age, have had only one husband, have had experience in the bringing up of children, and be well known as devoted to good works. She is a widow indeed, and something more. She has an office in the Church with definite functions to discharge, and the Church is responsible for her support.
II. Discretion and tact were necessary in dealing with the different classes of widows.—Timothy was young, and was exhorted so to behave himself that his moral integrity should command respect in spite of his youth. Respect must be shown towards age and moral worth (1 Timothy 5:3), and discretion exercised in dealing with the young and wanton (1 Timothy 5:6-7). There is a shrewd insight into human nature in one of the rules imposed by Wesley on his early preachers: “Converse sparingly with women, especially with young women.” “Care must be taken not to encourage either a rigour not likely to be maintained, or opportunities of idleness certain to lead to mischief. Help is to be generously afforded to the destitute, but the resources of the Church must be jealously guarded. They must not be wasted on the unworthy, or on those who have other means of help. And, so far as possible, the independence of those who are relieved must be protected by employing them in the service of the Church” (1 Timothy 5:3-16) (Plummer).
III. The principle of self-help and independence in the Christian family is recognised and strongly enforced (1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16).—The Church is not to be regarded as a permanent board of relief constituted for the administration of indiscriminate charity. It does not and should not free any of its members from responsibilities by undertaking for them in mistaken charity the duties they ought to discharge and are capable of discharging themselves. Christianity teaches the gospel of work, not as an end in itself, but as a means of securing support and independence, and of freely ministering to the good of others. No one should be encouraged to attach himself or herself to the Church for the sake of personal maintenance. The Church must keep her needy members, but all who can work should be stimulated to honest and diligent industry.
Lessons.—
1. The young minister must be circumspect in his behaviour towards women.
2. The Church should shelter and help its deserving widows.
3. The Church should encourage work and a spirit of independence.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Timothy 5:16. Family Responsibilities.
I. Parents and children should mutually contribute to the family support.
II. The help of children afforded to their parents is a just requital of parental toil and affection.
III. The neglect of self-evident family duties is utterly alien to the spirit and teaching of Christianity (1 Timothy 5:8).
1 Timothy 5:4. The Christian Home—
I. Is the sphere for exercising practical religion.—“Learn first to show piety at home.”
II. Recognises the righteous claims of the widowed mother to affection and support.—“If any widow have children or grandchildren, let them … requite their parents.”
III. Enjoys the Divine approval.—“For that is good and acceptable before God.”
Piety at Home.
I. The home must be safe.
II. Make it attractive.
III. Make it instructive.
IV. Make the home a preparation for life.
V. Make the home a preparation for heaven.
VI. Keep the home near heaven.—J. Hamilton.
1 Timothy 5:8. Consistency of Benevolence with providing for our own.
I. Whenever the conduct proposed is physically impossible, it cannot be our duty.
II. Wherever this conduct would frustrate the great end of benevolence by lessening human happiness, it cannot be our duty.—
1. If the interests and duties of mankind were all thrown into a common stock, there would be little or no good done to any.
2. The division of human industry should be voluntary.
3. By the institution of families preparation is effectually made for the preservation, support, and education of children.
4. All the duties of man respect especially the objects he best knows, those to which he can most frequently and effectually extend his beneficence.—Dwight.
1 Timothy 5:11-15. Young Widowhood—
I. Has its special perils.—
1. In rebelling against the claims of Christ (1 Timothy 5:11-12).
2. In degenerating into habits of idleness and mischievous gossip (1 Timothy 5:13).
II. Has its safeguards in the duties and responsibilities of domestic life.