1 Timothy 5

(1)  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
(2)  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
(3)  Honour widows that are widows indeed.
(4)  But 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.
(5)  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
(6)  But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
(7)  And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
(8)  But 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.
(9)  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,
(10)  Well 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.
(11)  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
(12)  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
(13)  And 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.
(14)  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
(15)  For some are already turned aside after Satan.
(16)  If 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.
(17)  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
(18)  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
(19)  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
(20)  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
(21)  I 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.
(22)  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
(23)  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
(24)  Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
(25)  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

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Study Questions

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1. Is the elder spoken of here an older man or an officer in the church? How is Timothy instructed to treat an older man and a younger man? Verse 1.

2. What person in the New Testament would be an example of how to treat his mother and sisters? Verse 2. (See John 19:26 and Matthew 12:49)

3. What does the word “honor” mean? What is a “widow indeed”? Verse 3.

4. What is the duty of children or nephews (grandchildren) toward their widowed mother? Verse 4.

5. What are the three qualities of a widow indeed? What is the spiritual state of a widow who lives in pleasure? Verse 5-6.

6. What was the expected result of Timothy’s charge? Verse 7.

7. What is Paul’s assessment of those who will not provide for his own house? Who is under consideration in this context? Verse 8.

8. What is meant by a widow being “enrolled” or “taken into the number”? Verse 9.

9. What are the eight qualifications of a widow who is to be enrolled or taken into the number? Verses 9-10.

10. Why are widows younger than sixty excluded? What does it mean “to wax wanton”? Verse 11.

11. What is the younger widows’ first faith or pledge they rejected which brought “damnation”? Verse 12.

12. What is the tendency of younger widows who have cast off their first faith? Verse 13.

13. What is Paul’s solution to the problem in verses 11-13? Verse 14.

14. What is urgent about Paul’s instructions and warnings? Verse 15.

15. What is Paul’s solution for those widows who are not widows indeed, but are not married? Verse 16.

16. What is the “double honor” for the elders who rule well? Verse 17.

17. What does the ox get from his work? What does a laborer receive? What should a faithful man of God receive from his efforts? Verse 18.

18. What should a young preacher do when criticisms of elders come as they inevitably do? Verse 19.

19. What should be done when an accusation has been properly established? Verse 20.

20. What are some things that could cause an evangelist to act by preference or partiality? Verse 21.

21. What would the context of this passage lead us to understand about the charge to “lay hands suddenly on no man”? Verse 22.

22. How does this verse show the reverse of drinking wine as a beverage? Verse 23.

23. What bearing could this verse have upon the general subject of this section--the eldership? Verse 24.

24. In this verse, what cannot be hid and why? Verse 25.