Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Divers Precepts to Timothy. 1 TIMOTHY V. Rules as to Reproving.
bo Ucal act of laying on hands. But the Grepk "with" implies that the pi-esbyter's laying on hands was the mere accompaniment of the conferring of the gift. " By" (2 Timtreatment of the other sex will promote "purity." 3. Honour—by setting on the Church-roll, as fit object.s of charitable sustenance (y. 9, 17, 18 ; Acts 6. 1). So "honour" isusetl for support with necessaries (Matthew 15. 4, 6; Acts otliy 1. 6) implies that Paul's laying on his hands was the actual instrument of its being conferred, of the pr«-sbytery—In 2 Timothy 1. 6 the apostle mentions only his otvn laying on of hands. But there his aim is to remind Tim-
28. 10). widows indeed—(v. 16.) Those really desolate; not like those {v. i) having children or relations answerable for their support, nor like those (in v. G) " who live in pleasure;" but such as, from their earthly desolation as to friends, are most likely to trust wholly In God, persevere in continual prayei's, and carry out the religious duties assigned to Church widows (v. 5). Care for widows was transferred from the Jewish economy to the Christian (Deuteronomy 14, 29; 16. 11 ; 24. 17, 19). 4. if any widow —not "a widow indeed," as having children who ought to support her. nephews—rather, as Greek, " descendants," or "grandchildren." [Hesychius.] Nephews in old English meant grandchildren [Hooker, Ecclesiastical Polity, 5. 20J. let them—the children and descendants, learn flrst—ere it falls to the Church to support them, to show piety at hoiiie—filial piety towards their widowed mother or grandmother, bj' giving her sustenance. Lit.,". . . towards their own Jiouse." " Piety is applied to the reverential discharge of filial duties; as the parental relation is the earthly representation of God our heavenly Father's relation to us. "Their oum" stands in opposition to the Church, in relation to which the widow is comparatively a stranger. She has a claim on her own children, prior to her claim on the Church ; let them fulfil this prior claim which she has on them, by sustaining her and not burdening the Church, parents— Greek, (living) "progenitors," i.e., their mother or grandmother, as the case maybe. "Let them learn," implies that abuses of this kind had crept into the Church, widows claiming Church support, though they had children or grandchildren able to support them, good and—The oldest MSS. omit. The words are probably inserted by a tran.scriber from ch. 2.
otliy specially of the part he himself took in imparting to him the gift. Here he mentions the fact, quite consistent with the other, that the neighbouring presbyters took part in the ordination or consecration, he, however, taking the foremost part. Paul, though having the general oversight of the elders everywhere, was an elder himself
(1 Peter 5. 1 ; 2 John 1). The Jewish council was composed of the elders of the Church (the presbytery, Luke 22. 66; Acts 22. 5), and a presiding rabbi ; so the Christian Church was composed of apostles, elders, and a president (Acts 15.
16). As the president of the synagogue was of the same order as his presbyters, so the bishop was of the same order as his presbyters. At the ordination of the president of the synagogue there were always three presbyters present to lay on hands, so the early Church canons required three bishops to be present at the consecration of a bishop. As the president of the synagogue, so the bishop of the Church alone could ordain, he acting as the representative, and in the name of the whole presbytery. [ViTRiNGA.] So, in the Anglican Church, the bishop ordains, the presbyters or priests present joining with him in laying on hands. 15. Meditate Oreek, " Meditate carefully upon" (Psalm 1. 2; 119. 15; cf. "Isaac," Genesis 21. 63). tKese tilings (v. 12-14.) As food would not nourish without digestion, which assimilates the food to the substance of the body, so spiritual food, in order to profit us, needs to be appropriated by prayerful meditation, give thyselfwholly to lit., " Bemi these things ;" let them engross thee wholly; be wholly absorbed in them. Entire selfdedication, as in other pursuits, so especially in religion,
3. 5. widow Indeed, and desolate—contrasted with her who has children or grandchildren to support her (i;. 4). trusteth In God—Perfect tense in Greet, "Hath rested, and doth rest her hope in God." This v. 5 adds another qualifica,tion in a widow for Church maintenance, besides her being "desolate" or destitute of children to support her. She must be not one " that liveth in pleasure" {v. 6), but one making God her main hope (the accusative in i8 the secret of proficiency. There are changes as to all other studies, fashionable to-day, out of fashion to-morrow; this study alone is never obsolete, and when made the all-engrossing aim sanctifies all other studies. The exercise of the ministry threatens the spirit of the ministry, unless It be sustained within. The minister must be first his own scholar before he can be another's teacher. pro Atlng Greek, "progress" towards perfection in the Christian life, and especially towards the fullest realization of the ideal of a Christian minister (c. 12). may appear to nil—not for thy glory, but for the winning of souls (Matthew 5. 16). 18. Take heed—Give heed (Acts 3. 5). thyself, and . . . doctrine— "and unto thy teaching." The two requisites of a good pastor ; His teaching will bo of no avail, unless his own life accord with it; and his own purity of life is not enough, unless he be diligent in teachiiag. [Calvin.] This verse is a summary of v. 12. continue in them—(2 Timothy .3. 11.) in doing tills—not "by doing this," as though he could save himself by works, thon shalt . . . save thyself, and them, iSc. (Ezekiel 33. 9; James q. 20.) In performing faithfully his duty to others, the minister is promoting his own salvation. Indeed he cannot "give heed unto the teaching" of others, unless he be at the same time "giving heed unto
Greek e.Kpresses that God is the ultimate aim ti'hereto her hope is directed; whereas, ch. 4. 10, dative expresses hope resting on God as her present stay [Wiesinger]), and continuing instantly in prayers. Her destitution of children, and of all ties to earth, would leave her more unencumbered for devoting the rest of her days to God and the Church (1 Corinthians. 7. 33, 31). Cf. also "Anna a widow," who remained unmarried after her husband's death, and " departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and praj'ers day and night" (Luke 2. 36, 37). Such a one, Paul implies, would be the fittest object for the Church's help (v. 3); for such a one Is promoting the cause of Christ's Church by her prayers for It. "Ardour in prayers flows from hoping confidence in Gotl." [Leo.] in supplications and prayers — Greek, "in her supplications and prayers;" the former signifies asking under a sense of need, the latter, jn-ayer (Noles, ch. 2. 1 ; Philippians 4. 6). niglit and day—Another coincidence with Luke (Luke 18. 7, "cry day and night"); contrast Satan's accusations " day and night " (Revelation 12. 10). O. she that livetli in pleasure—the opposite of such a widow as is described r. 5, and therefore one utterly undeserving of Church charity. The ffi-ee Aexpresses u-anton prodigality nml excess. [Tittm.\nn.] The rowt expresses weaving at a fast rate, and so lavish excess {iVote, James 5.
himself."
CHAPTER V.
Ver. 1-2). Oenekal Directions as to now Timothy SHOULD Deal with Different Classes in thf. Church.
1. an elder in (Kje ; probably not an elder in the min Utry ; these latter are not mentioned till. v. 17, " the elders that rule." Cf. Acts 2. 17, " Your old men," lit., "elders." Contrasted with " theyoungermiin." .\s Timothy wasadmoii Ished so to conduct himself us to give no man reason to despise his i/oiUh {ch. 4. 12); so here he is told to bear In mind his youth, and to behave with the modesty which becomes a young man In relation to his elders. "Rebuke," lit., " .Strike hard upon ;" Rebuke not sliarph/ : a different word from " rebuk<'," 2 Timothy 1. 2. entreat—e,\-
5). dead while she livetli—dead in the.SpirIt Whilst alive in the tlcsh (Matthew 8. 22; Kphosiaus 5. H). 7. the»o things—Just now spoken (v. 5, 6). tliat tiiey may be blameless viz., the widows supported by the Church. 8« nut—Reverting to v. 4, "If any (a general proposition; therefore Including In It-s application the loidow's children or grandchildren) provide not for his own (relations In general), and especially for those of. his own house (In particular), he hath (practically) denied the fulth." Faltb tiort. as bretliren—and tlierefore equals; not lording it over them (1 Peter 5. 1-3). a. with all purity—Respectful 414
Omcerning the Widows of the Church. 1 TIMOTHY V. The Younger Widows to Re-marry.
desire is to marry again. 12. Having—Bringing on themselves, and so having to bear as a burden (Galatians 5. lUj judgment from God (cf. ch. 3, 6), weighing like a load on them, cast off their first faith viz., pledged to Christ and the service of the Cliurcli. There could be no hardship at the age of sixty or upwards in not marrying again (end oft). 9), for the sake cf serving better the cause of Christ as presby teresses ; tliough, to ordinary widows, no barrier existed against re-marriage (1 Corinthians 7. 39). This is altogether distinct from Rome's unnatural vows of celibacy in the case of young marriageable women. The widow-presbyteresses, moreover, engaged to remain sinwithout love and its worlts is dead ; "for the subject-matter of faith is not mere opinion, but tlie grace and truth of God, to which he that believes gives up his spirit, as he tUat loves gives up his heart." [Mack.] If in any case a duty of love is plain, it is in relation to one's own relatives; to fail in so plain an obligation is a plain proof of v/a It of love, and therefore of want of faitli. " Faith does not set aside natural duties, but streugtliens them." [Bexgel.] worse than an Infidel—because even an infidel (or unbeliever) is taught by nature to provide for his owr. relatives, and generally recognizes tiie dut3^; the Christian who does not so, is worse (Matthew 5. 4(i, 47). He has less excuse with his greater light, than the infidel wlio may break, the laws of nature. 9. Translate, " As a widrtw gle, not as though single life were holier than married life (according to Rome's teaching), but because tlie interests of Christ's cause made it desirable (Note, ch. 3. 2). They had pledged "their first faitli" to Christ as presbyteress widows ; they now wish to transfer their faith to a husband (cf. 1 Corinthians 7. 82, 34). 13. withal—"at the same time, moreover." learn—usually in a good sense, lut these women's "learning" is idleness, trifling, and busyhodies' tattle, wandering Greek, "going about.
(i. e., of tlie ecclesiastical order of widowhood ; a kind of fonale presbytery), let none be enrolled (in tlae catalogue) wlio is less than sixty years old." Tliese were not deaconesses, who were chosen at a younger age (forty was tlie age fixeil at the Council of Chalcedon), and who had virgins
(in a later age called widows) as well as widows among them, but a band of widows set apart, though not yet formally and finally, to the service of God an(L the Ciiurch. Traces of such a class appear in Acts 9. H. iTorcas herself was such a one. As it was expedient {Note, cli. 3. 2; Titus
' from house to house—of tlie members of the Church (2 Timothy 3. 6). "They carry the af Tairs of this house to tliat, and of tliat to this ; they tell the aflfairs of all to all." [Theophylact.] tattlers— " trifling talkers." In 3 John 10, translated "prating." busybodies—mischievously busy ; inconsiderately curious (2 Thessalonians 3. 11). Acts
1. 6) that the presbyter or bishop should have been but once married, so also in her case. Tiiere is a transition here to a new subject. The reference liere cannot be, as in
19. 19, " curious," the same Greek. Curiosity usually springs from idleness, which is itself the mother of garrulity. [Calvin.] speaking—not merely "sai/ig'." The subject7natter, as Well as the form; is involved in the Greek word, [Alfoed.] which they ought not—(Titus 1. 11.) 14. younger women—rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, "the younger widovs," viz., yoanger widows in general, as distinguished from the elder widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (v. 9). The "therefore" means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, " I will," or
V. to providing Church sustenance for them. For the restriction to widows above sixty would then be needless and harsii, since many widows might be in need of help at a much earlier age ; as also the rule that the widow must not have been twice married, especially since lie liimself, below {v. 14), enjoins the younger widows to marry again ; as also that she must have brought up children. Moreover,
V. 10 presupposes some competence, at least in past times, and so poor widiows would be excluded, the very class requiring charity. Also, «. H would then be senseless, Cor tiien their re-marrying would be a benefit, not an injury,
"desire," &c. (u. 11-13). Tiie precept here that they should marry again, Is not inconsistent with 1 Corinthians 7. 40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (cf. 1 Corinthians 7. 26). Here re-marriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and the other evils noted V. 11-13. Of course, where there was no tendency to these evils, marriage again would not be so requisite; St. Paul speaks of what is generally desirable, and supposing there should be danger of such evils, as was likely. "He does not impose a laiv, but points out a j emedy, to younger widows." [Chkysostom.] btar children—(Ch. 2. 15)—thus gaining one of the qualifications (v. 10) for being afterwards a presbyteress widow, should Providence so ordain it. guide Greek, "Rule the house" in the woman's due place; not usurping au Vwrity over the man (ch. 2. 12). give none occasion lit., " starling-point;" handle of reproach through the loose eonduct of nominal Christians, the adversary—of Christianity, Jew or Gentile. Philippians 1. 28; Titus 2. 8, "He tliat is of the contrary part." Not Satan, who is introduced in a different relation {v. 15.) to speak reproachfully— "for the sake of reproach" (ch. 3. 7; 6. 1; Titus to the Church, as relieving it of the burden of their sustenance. Tertullian, De Velandis Virginibus, c. 9., Hek-
MAs', Shepherd, B. 1. 2, and Chrysostom, Homily 31, mention such an order of ecclesiastical widowhood, each one not less than sixty years old, and resembling the presbyters in the respect paid to them, and in some of tlieir duties; they ministered with sympathizing counsel to other widows and to orphans, a ministry to which tlieir own experimental knowledge of the feelings and sufferings of the bereaved adapted them, and luid a general supervision of tlieir sex. Age was doubtless a requisite in 2>resbyters, as it is here stated to have been Xa presbyteresses, with a view to their influence on the younger persons of their
Bex. They were supported by tlie Church, but not tiie only widows so supported (v. 3, 4). -wife of one man—in order not to throw a stumbling-block in tlie way of Jews and heathen, who regarded with disfavour second marriages (Note, ch. 3. 2; Titus 1. 6). This is tlie force of " blameless," giving no offence, even in matters inditferent. 10. for good works— (?reeA;, "IN honourable (excellent) works ;" the sphere or element in which the good report of her had place (Titus 2. 7). This answers to ch. 3. 7, as to the bishop or presliyter, "He must have a good report of them which are without." If—if, in addilioii to being well reported of," she, &c. 8l»e . . . brouglit «p children—either her own (ch.3. 4, 12), or those of ol hers, which
2. 5, 10). If the handle were given, the adversary would u.se it for the sake of reproach. The adversary is eager to exaggerate the faults of a few, and to lay the blame on the whole Church and its doctrines. [Bengel,.] 15. Vor—For in the case of some this result has already ensued ; "Some (widows) are already turned aside after Satan," tlie seducer (not by falling away from the faith in general, but) by such errors as are stigmatized ti. 11-13, sexual passion, idleness, &c., and so have given occasion of reproach (v. 14). "Sal.iin finds some mischief still for the idle hands to do." 16. If any . . . have widows—of his family, however related to him. Most of the oldest M.SS. and versions omit" man or," and read, " If any woman that believeth." But the Received text «eeTO.v preferable. If, however, the weightiest authorities are to prevail, the sense will be. He was speaking of younger widows; He now says, If any be-
Is one of the " good works ;" a qualification adapting her for ministry to orplian children, and to mothers of families, lodged strangers—ch. 3. 2, " given to hospitality," Titus 1.8; in the case of presbyters. Wiislied . . . saints'
the example of the Lord (.John 13. 11); a specimen of tlie universal spirit of humbly "by love serving one another," which actuated the early Ciirisllans. relieved llie aflllctrd—whether by pecuniary or other relief, follotved . . . good—(1 Thessalonians 5. 15; cf. instances
In Matthew. 2.5. 3.5, 36.) 11. younger— than sixty years old
9). refuse—to take on the roll of presbyteress widows,
'tvax wanton-it/., "over-strong" (2 Chronicles 20. IG). against Christ—rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom. [Jerome.] they will— CJreefc, they ii'i«A/ thfelr lieving young widow have widows related to her needing support, let her relieve them, thereby easing the Churcii of the burden, v. 3, 4 {there it was the children and grand-