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1 Timothy
Chapter Five
I.
Content of the Chapter
How Do God’s Workers Deal with Different
Kinds of People in the Church
I. How to deal with
men and women and older men and younger men (v.1-2).
II. How to deal with
widows (v.3-16).
III. How to deal
with the elders (v.17-25).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
1Tim. 5:1 “Do not rebuke an older
man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,”
YLT: “An
aged person thou mayest not rebuke, but be entreating as a father; younger
persons as brethren; ”
Meaning
of Words: “rebuke”: censure,
blame, thump; “an older man”: a senior, older; “exhort”: beseech, comfort,
entreat, advise, counsel.
Literal Meaning: “Do not rebuke an older man” “an older man” refers to a man who is older
than himself. He may make a mistake, however, he is still worthy of respect for
his age.
“But
exhort him as a father” this sentence
implies that: 1) love should be the starting point; 2) it is to retrieve him
instead of deal with him; 3) the attitude should be with great respect; 4) one
should exhort meekly.
“Younger
men as brothers” “younger men”
refers to the fellows and those who are younger than him in the church. “As
brothers” means that we should deal with them with brotherly love and make them
feel the sincere concern.
1Tim. 5:2 “older women as mothers,
younger women as sisters, with all purity.”
YLT: “aged
women as mothers, younger ones as sisters -- in all purity;”
Literal Meaning: “older women as mothers, younger women as sisters” “as mothers…as sisters” it implies the same
points with “as a father…as brothers” in the previous verse and here the
“gender” should be considered.
“With
all purity” refers to the pure
heart and clean hands, i.e. pure intentions and seemly behavior. “All” indicates
that we should try our best, lest we make others have wrong impressions.
The first and second verses give us a spiritual
principle to deal with brothers and sisters in the church: 1) replacing blame
with exhortation and replacing condemnation with retrieve; 2) regarding others
as our own family members, i.e. being deeply concerned with them in love; 3)
the younger respect the elder. We deal with the older brothers and sisters as
our own fathers and mothers, i.e. the modest, polite and respectful attitude;
4) males and females should be treated differently. Handling people with
opposite gender with appropriate behavior and pure intention and we should not
have dirty ideas.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When shepherding and teaching people with
different genders and ages, the Lord’s workers should keep their own positions
first and teach them standing in the right position.
2) Since the one who serves the Lord with a pure
heart knows that the church is the house of God, he should be full of the sense
of family in dealing with all Saints in the church------“as a father…as
mothers…as brothers…as sisters” and it is proper.
3) If the Lord’s workers do invariably with the
attitude that business is business, always stress on gains and losses, belittle
and weed out the old and weak and exalt and cozy up to the strong, they become
politicians in the society instead of servers in the church.
1Tim. 5:3 “Honor widows who are
really widows.”
YLT: “honour
widows who are really widows;”
Literal Meaning: “Honor” includes the attitude of respect and the
provision of properties (See v.17-18). “Who are really widows” refers to widows
who are left alone and live piously (See v.5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers should not only show mercy to those
who are contented in poverty and devoted to spiritual things but also respect
them.
2) The true respect is to take care of the need of
the other and be willing to give him help.
1Tim. 5:4 “But if any widow has
children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to
repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.”
YLT: “and
if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to their own
house to show piety, and to give back a recompense to the parents, for this is
right and acceptable before God.”
Meaning of Words: “show piety”: filial
piety, be godly to.
Literal Meaning: “But if any widow has
children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home” “show piety” indicates that the children
and grandchildren have the responsibility for taking care of and respecting for
the elders in their family.
“And
to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God” “repaying their parents” refers to taking
care of and repaying their parents to show their gratitude. “Before God” refers
to in the eyes of God or what God takes for granted.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The word “first” shows that taking care of one’s
family members is the first lesson for one to live godly and there are deeper
lessons for him to learn soon after.
2) It is acceptable to God for believers to provide
for their family. Respecting and taking care of parents are serving God.
1Tim. 5:5 “Now she who is really a
widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers
night and day.”
YLT: “And
she who is really a widow and desolate, hath hoped upon God, and doth remain in
the supplications and in the prayers night and day,”
Literal Meaning: “Now she who is really a
widow, and left alone” “And left alone”
refers to the one who does not have children to provide for her. The definition
of “she who is really a widow” also includes trusting in God and continuing in
supplications and prayers night and day in the following sentence, besides her
being left alone.
“Trusts
in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” “trusting in God” means that she puts all
her hope in God and regards Him as the source of provision and refuge. “Night
and day” means that she usually sets her mind on it and puts it into practice
by prayer at any time. “Supplications” refers to prayers with the special aim;
“prayers” refers to the common prayers for drawing near to God.
“Continues in supplications and prayers night and day” does not mean that she prays loudly
unceasingly but that she always keeps the imitate communication with God and
lives a life of “abiding in the Lord” (See John. 15:4-7; 1Thess. 5:17).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our spiritual states should be like that of “the
widow who is really a widow, and left alone”------there is none that we love
besides Christ and everything is uninteresting if Christ is absent. And
therefore we “trust in God and continue in supplications and prayers night and
day” and give our mind to relying on the Lord and waiting for Him.
2) Apparently, the provision of life of the widow
who is left alone is from the church. But actually the widow who truly trusts
in God shall see that it is given by God and therefore she lives a life of
thanksgiving.
3) Christians should continue in committing our
trouble to God and continue in experiencing God’s works from prayers.
4) Prayer is the breathing of believers. The
breathing of the spiritual life cannot stop, just as the breathing of the flesh
cannot stop.
5) If Christians respond after we have prayed to
God in silence and asked Him when facing everything we encounter, we shall see
the good hand of God upon us (See Neh. 2:4, 8).
1Tim. 5:6 “But she who lives in
pleasure is dead while she lives.”
YLT: “and
she who is given to luxury, living -- hath died;”
Literal Meaning: “lives in pleasure” refers to pursuing the enjoyment of the
flesh, including being fond of eating and drinking. “Dead” refers to losing the
spiritual senses like a walking corpse.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If our spiritual states are like that of “the
widow who lives in pleasure”------Christ had left this world and she is still
interesting in everything in the world and we still pursue and enjoy things in
which Christ is not the content and reality, as it is said here, we indeed “are
dead while we live” and are of no value of existence before God.
2) The meaning of believers’ existence is to
experience and manifest Christ in their life and rely on Him and live for Him.
And now we wouldn’t “be dead while we live” before the Lord (Rev. 3:11).
1Tim. 5:7 “And these things command,
that they may be blameless.”
YLT: “and
these things charge, that they may be blameless;”
Literal Meaning: “And these things command” “these things” refers to the teachings
concerning widows (See v.3-16). The word “command” is the military term and it
means conveying orders and spreading messages.
“That
they may be blameless” means they are
unlikely to disobey the truth for their ignorance.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Preachers should not keep back anything that is
profitable to believers (Acts. 20:20), otherwise, preachers shall bear joint
liability to God if believers commit sins for their ignorance (See Ezek.
33:6-8).
2) From the other point of view, believers’
receiving and obeying the teachings of preachers is the reason why they receive
God’s blessing, otherwise, they shall be judged by God for their own behavior
(See Ezek. 33:2-5).
1Tim. 5:8 “But if anyone does not
provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied
the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
YLT: “and
if any one for his own -- and especially for those of the household -- doth not
provide, the faith he hath denied, and than an unbeliever he is worse.”
Literal Meaning: “But if anyone does not
provide for his own…he has denied the faith” “he has denied the faith” indicates that
one’s behavior does not agree with his faith and it equally denies the
connotation of faith.
“And
is worse than an unbeliever.” Even the world who
does not believe in the Lord provides for their own and therefore believers
should provide for their own more.
“And especially for those of his
household” it means that
providing for those of his household is more important than providing for his
own.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The more grace a Christian receive, the more
“love of families” he will have------taking care of his household, taking care
of his family members, helping them with their physical need and keeping
thinking about their spirits’ being saved.
2) The faith without human interest is not the true
faith. Any behavior that one disregards his household in the excuse of faith
must be of the aberrant faith.
1Tim. 5:9 “Do not let a widow under
sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife
of one man,”
YLT: “A
widow -- let her not be enrolled under sixty years of age, having been a wife
of one husband,”
Literal Meaning: “be taken into the number” “the number” refers to a name list of
registering those who shall be relieved by the church. At that time, there was
neither the public relief nor pension system and the social positions of women
were quite low and therefore old women in the church specially needed the care
of love from the church (See Acts. 6:1).
Some Bible exegetes held that “the
number” refers to the list that is used of registering the widows who were
qualified to serve in the church because they had brought up children and were
able to lodge strangers (See v.10). However, such explanation seems to be quite
farfetched and it does not conform to the purpose of relieving widows mentioned
in the context (See v.3-16). And therefore it cannot be the admitted evidence.
“Do not let a widow under sixty years
old” in the original it means that she must be
over sixty.
“And not unless she has been the wife of
one man” it indicates that
she had not remarried after her husband had died.
1Tim. 5:10 “well reported for good
works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has
washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has
diligently followed every good work.”
YLT: “in
good works being testified to: if she brought up children, if she entertained
strangers, if saints' feet she washed, if those in tribulation she relieved, if
every good work she followed after;”
Meaning of Words: “diligently follow”:
follow after closely.
The
Background: “if she has washed the
saints' feet” in the ancient,
the Jews usually wore slippers without uppers when they went out. And their
feet were spotted with dusts when they went on some distance. And therefore
they would take off their slippers and wash their feet after they walk in the
door, otherwise they would be very uncomfortable. One of the lowest slaves’
works was to untie the shoelaces, take off and carry the shoes for their host
and guests and then take a basin of water to wash their feet.
The Lord Jesus had washed the feet of
His disciples on the feast of the Passover and commanded them to wash the feet
of each other (John. 13:1-17). The Lord meant to teach them that: 1) they
should humble themselves and be willing to serve each other; 2) they should
provide each other the freshness of life and wash away the worldly dirties that
the other one has been spotted.
Literal Meaning: “well reported for good
works” “good works”
refers to doing good works of helping others. “Well reported” indicates that
one behaves so consistently and therefore he is praised and spread by men.
“If she has brought up children” “if” shows that the following examples
explain what is “well reported for good works”. “She has brought up children”
here it does not mean that she has brought up her own children but the orphans
in the church because: 1) it is the duty to bring up one’s own children instead
of good work; 2) if a widow has children, she needn’t be taken into the number
to be relieved by the church (See v.4, 9).
“If
she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the
saints’ feet” “strangers” refers to guests who are away
from home. “If
she has washed the saints’ feet” please see the background and here it
specially indicates that she humbly serves the Saints from other places whom
she had lodged.
“If
she has relieved the afflicted” It means that she
is wiling to share what she has with others (See Mark. 12:41-44; Luke. 21:1-4).
“If
she has diligently followed every good work” “every good work” includes the above-mentioned
good works and other good works that cannot be listed one by one.
Please note that the good works listed in this verse
are the service that they partook in when their husbands were alive and they
are well reported. And these things are not what they should do after they are
taken into the number. For instance, concerning “lodging strangers”, it is not
the good work suitable for a poor widow.
1Tim. 5:11 “But refuse the younger
widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to
marry,”
YLT: “and
younger widows be refusing, for when they may revel against the Christ, they
wish to marry,”
Literal Meaning: “But refuse the younger
widows” “refuse” indicates
that do not take her into the number (See v.9).
“For
when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry” “having begun to grow wanton” indicates
that her mind is overtaken by lust and in the original it describes that the
young and vigorous bull exerts the utmost strength to struggle in order to free
itself from the yoke upon it. “Against Christ” refers to betraying the vow that
she had made before the Lord that she would not remarry (See v.12).
1Tim. 5:12 “having condemnation
because they have cast off their first faith.”
YLT: “having
judgment, because the first faith they did cast away,”
Literal Meaning: “because they have cast off
their first faith” “first faith” a widow
has not committed a sin if she remarries after her husband has died (1Cor.
7:39), however, if she has vowed that she wouldn’t remarry this life for the
relieve of the church or other reasons and latter she has betrayed the vow, she
indeed ahs committed a sin before God.
1Tim. 5:13 “And besides they learn to
be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also
gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.”
YLT: “and
at the same time also, they learn idle, going about the houses; and not only
idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;”
Meaning of Words: “learn to”:
understand, study.
Literal Meaning: “And besides they learn to
be idle, wandering about from house to house” “be idle” shows that they become lazy because
they do not have jobs for a long time. “Wandering about from house to house”
indicates that they are not accustomed to being quiet by themselves before God
and praying but like visiting everywhere------they are fond of getting in touch
with men instead of God.
“And
not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought
not.” In the original “gossips” describes the boiling water boils and here it
refers to talking unceasingly. “Busybodies” in the original
means caring about things unrelated to oneself or being curious about the
insignificant things. “Saying
things which they ought not” it means that one
does not control his lips and always says things which he should not.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Laziness is not innate. One’s deep-rooted lazy
habits become his second nature. And therefore the lazy ones could not blame
his parents and they should blame themselves.
2) If men do not like drawing nigh to God, they
will like drawing nigh to men. If men do not like praying to God, they will
like speaking to men.
3) The family visitation among believers is good
through which believers could care about and show goodwill and friendship to
each other. However, if it is not of the burden in the Spirit, it would be
utilized by Satan to spread rumors and slanders to harm the church.
1Tim. 5:14 “Therefore I desire that
the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity
to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
YLT: “I
wish, therefore, younger ones to marry, to bear children, to be mistress of the
house, to give no occasion to the opposer to reviling;”
Literal Meaning: “Therefore I desire that the
younger widows marry” Paul once said to
widows that it was good for them if they remain even as him during the early
period of his work (1Cor. 7:8). However, it was in the later period of his
work, he held that deuterogamy was the best plan for the younger widows
according to his many years’ observation of the younger widows.
“Bear
children, manage the house” It means that they
live the normal family life during their remaining years and they won’t become
the burden of the church.
“Give
no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully” “The adversary” refers to unbelievers who are
hostile to the church or Satan.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Concerning the deuterogamy of widows, Paul the
apostle held different views according to his experience and it shows that
experiences always change one’s viewpoint. It shows us that: a) the younger
should respect the opinions of the elder; b) believers should pursue the higher
and deeper experiences.
2) To the lazy and meddling women (See v.13),
bearing children and managing the house are their salvation and protection (See
Gen. 3:16).
1Tim. 5:15 “For some have already
turned aside after Satan.”
YLT: “for
already certain did turn aside after the Adversary.”
Literal Meaning: “have already turned aside
after Satan” indicates that: 1)
she betrays what she had vowed first (See v.12); 2) she even did the thing
humiliating the name of the Lord (See v.13).
1Tim. 5:16 “If any believing man or
woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened,
that it may relieve those who are really widows.”
YLT: “If
any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve them, and
let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it may relieve.”
Literal Meaning: “any believing man
or woman” this sentences has two kinds of translations: 1) in the majority of
codices and Chinese versions “any woman that believes” is adopted; 2) in the
minority of codices and Lu Chen-chung Version “any believing man or woman” is
adopted. Concerning the above-mentioned two translations, the majority of the
Bible exegetes agreed that the first translation was more reliable. Probably
the scribes who copied the scriptures held that it was unreasonable that only
“woman” was mentioned here and therefore they slightly changed it into the
second translation.
“If
any believing man or woman has widows”
this verse is the conclusion of the teachings of relieving widows (See v.3-16)
and it indicates how believers and the church divide the work to look after
widows. Here Paul commanded “any woman that believes” and she should be widows’
sister or sister-in-law except the children or grandchildren of widows (See
v.4). Paul did not mention men because he considered that the action that a man
and a woman were alone in a room would make the negative influence on the
testimony of Christians.
“Let
them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened” “be burdened” means being pressed by
weight. It expresses the first principle of the division of works between
believers and the church in looking after widows: if widows do not have lineal
relatives (children or grandchildren), their relatives who have the economic
capability should take the responsibility for looking after them as long as it
does not harm the testimony of Christians, lest the church is overburdened.
“That
it may relieve those who are really widows” this sentence shows the second principle of the
division of works in looking after widows: the church must take the
responsibility for taking care of “those who are really widows”.
The
so-called “those who are really widows” are widows that are able to be taken
into the number (See v.9). According to the scriptures in this passage, they at
least qualify the following conditions: 1) they do not have children or
grandchildren (See v.4); 2) the do not have female relatives (See v.8, 16); 3) they
must be over sixty (See v.9); 4) she has been the wife of one man (See v.9); 5)
they were well reported for good works (See v.10); 6) they do not live in
pleasure and trust in God and pray to Him wholeheartedly (See v.5-6). In
addition, they must declare that they do not intent to remarry when they are
taken into the number (See v.11-12).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should try our best to do all things as our
capacity allows and should not pass them on to the church casually.
2) The testimony of Christianity is very important,
especially concerning the dealings and contact between the opposite sex. We
must keep the propriety and should not be causal.
1Tim. 5:17 “Let the elders who rule
well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word
and doctrine.”
YLT: “The
well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially
those labouring in word and teaching,”
Literal Meaning: “the elders who rule well” it shows that “the elders” are those who
rule the church. All the administrative measures in the church are made by the
elders together before God and they supervise and carry out the measures.
“Let…be
counted worthy of double honor” “double honor”
refers to giving respect and properties (See v.18).
“Especially those who labor in the word
and doctrine” “the word” refers
to the common speaking of the word of God; “doctrine” refers to the special
instructions to individual matters.
Here “those who labor in the word and doctrine” has two meanings: 1) it indicates that
some of the elders have the gift of preaching and teaching men, besides ruling
the church well administratively and they also do the job of teaching and
shepherding (See 3:2); 2) they refer to the full-time preachers.
To those who “labor” in serving the church, we
should respect them and give the properties more so that they could serve
wholeheartedly without fear of disturbance in the rear.
1Tim. 5:18 “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of
his wages.’”
YLT: “for
the Writing saith, `An ox treading out thou shalt not muzzle,' and `Worthy the
workman of his reward.'”
Literal Meaning: “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’” it is quoted from Deut. 25:4 and it means
that we should let an ox eat the grain around it while it works in the floor
(See 1Cor. 9:9).
“And,
‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” It is ordered in the commandments of the
Old Testament that masters could not embezzle workers’ wages (See Lev. 19:13;
Deut. 24:14-15). The Lord Jesus also said so while He was in the world (Luke.
10:7).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord’s workers are “oxen” that tread out the
grain and we should bear hardship without complaining like oxen. However, we
should not have the stubbornness of oxen.
2) The Lord wishes His workers to work
wholeheartedly and not to waste their precious time and physical strength for
the needs of life. And therefore the church takes the responsibility for
supplying the Lord’s workers.
3) If we are really the Lord’s “men who labor in
the word and doctrine” (See v.17), He shall realize the promise that “The laborer is worthy of
his wages” by Himself.
However, if we do the work of “ourselves”, probably we will “go to war at our
own expense” (See 1Cor. 9:7).
4) Believers do the work of the Lord and they shall
receive both the material and spiritual provisions.
5) The principle of the holy service is that one
serves diligently on one hand and on the other he has the plentiful enjoyment
and what he enjoys is from his service, e.g. the one who always preaches the
message receives the provision from the message first.
6) From the other point of view, the principle that
the power of darkness enslaves men is that men are forced to burn bricks to
build cities and they are not given the straw; there is only the toilsome
service and there isn’t the provision and consequently sign and cry are brought
in (See Exod. 1:8-14; 2:23; 5:1-23).
1Tim. 5:19 “Do not receive an
accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.”
YLT: “Against
an elder an accusation receive not, except upon two or three witnesses.”
Literal Meaning: “an accusation against an
elder” “an accusation”
refers to the written accusation.
“Do
not receive…except from two or three
witnesses” it means that one
should not accept the accusation against an elder in the church merely by one’s
words.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The elders are the supreme administrators in the
church, however, they are not unconstrained or could do whatever they like and
they should show the good example before all Saints.
2) Judging in the church is according to the
principle of two or three witnesses and it is not only applied to the elders
but also to common believers (See Matt. 18:16).
1Tim. 5:20 “Those who are sinning
rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”
YLT: “Those
sinning, reprove before all, that the others also may have fear;”
Meaning of Words: “rebuke”: expose,
tell a fault, convince.
Literal Meaning: “Those who are sinning” “are sinning”, the verb of the continuous
tense, indicates that one continues in sinning; “those who are sinning”
specially refers to the elders who sin (See v.19).
“Rebuke
in the presence of all” “all” refers to
believers in the church, i.e. the whole church (See Matt. 18:17). Some Bible
exegetes held that “all” only referred to all the elders and leaders, however,
such interpretation conflicted with “two or three witnesses” in the previous
verse because witnesses are not within the limits of the elders and leaders of
the church. Since the fact of sin has been found out, it must be made clear
before witnesses and therefore the elders could not be rebuked merely before
the elders and leaders. The reason is clear.
Timothy was the one who appointed the elders (See 3:1-7; 5:22) and the
scripture here shows that he also had the authority to deal with the elders who
are sinning. It shows that though the elders are the brothers in charge in the
local church, they are not unconstrained by others.
“That
the rest also may fear” “the rest” refers
to all believers, including the other elders. “Fear” refers to making them be
watchful and dare not sin easily.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
2) When dealing with crimes in the church, we
should neither accept the words of the accusers easily (See v.19) nor connive
and appease those who are sinning. We should neither wrong nor connive.
3) Punishing those who are sinning has the effects
in several aspects: a) holding back crimes; b) correcting and retrieving those
who are sinning; c) making men not sin easily.
1Tim. 5:21 “I charge you before God
and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things
without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.”
YLT: “I
testify fully, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the choice messengers,
that these things thou mayest keep, without forejudging, doing nothing by
partiality.”
Meaning of Words: “prejudice”:
inclination, preference, bias, partiality.
Literal Meaning: “I charge you before God and
the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels” “the
elect angels” refers to those
who are chosen by God to partake in judgment (Matt. 25:31; Luke. 9:26) and they
are different from the angels who follow Satan and fall with it (Rev. 12:4, 9).
“That
you observe these things” “these things”
refers to the principles in dealing with the cases of accusations against the
elders (See v.19-25).
“Without
prejudice, doing nothing with partiality” “prejudice” indicates that one has already had
the judgment before he carefully checks it; “partiality” refers to with respect
of persons (See James. 2:1-4) and showing partiality to some part.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Prejudice” and “partiality” are the great bans
for servers because they conflict with Christ’s principle of abundance and it
will lead the church into the abnormal development consequently so as to lose
the state of fairness, equality and balanced growth of Christ’s body.
2) Once we have
prejudice, we won’t sense the feelings of others and we cannot sense the
feelings of the Holy Spirit in all Saints. In this way, we will become
subjective and autocratic unavoidably and therefore we will lose the harmonious
atmosphere and the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
3) If men walk with partiality, they will only
consider the partial situation and neglect the overall situation, cling to some
points and neglect the other points, only receive the one-sided help and
abandon the many-sided help.
4) The Lord Jesus came into the world, having
broken the hedges caused by various kinds of differences for us (See Eph.
2:14). We believers follow Christ and we should abandon all the partialities
and no longer have partialities to age, gender, race, class and others (See
Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
1Tim. 5:22 “Do not lay hands on
anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.”
YLT: “Be
laying hands quickly on no one, nor be having fellowship with sins of others;
be keeping thyself pure;”
Meaning of Words: “hastily”: quickly,
hurriedly, in haste.
Literal Meaning: “Do not lay hands on anyone
hastily” here “laying hands
on” specially refers to praying and laying hands on when appointing the elders
or deacons (See Acts. 6:6) and it means acknowledgement and acceptance. “Not
hastily” means that one should appoint men carefully------giving them positions
when they are found blameless after check and affirmation (See 3:10).
“Nor
share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure” “share in other people’s sins” indicates that if
the appointed elder is sinning, the one who appoints him cannot absolve himself
from the blame. “Keeping yourself pure” indicates that he is careful, lest he
be involved by others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The spiritual meaning of “laying hands on” among
Saints is quite important and it makes the one who lays hands on and the one
who is laid hands on unite and have communion with each other and partake in
the being of the other.
2) One should not appoint men who are unworthy of
the position of the elders randomly, otherwise, he will bear the joint
responsibility before the Lord and be condemned by Him.
1Tim. 5:23 “No longer drink only
water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent
infirmities.”
YLT: “no
longer be drinking water, but a little wine be using, because of thy stomach
and of thine often infirmities;”
Meaning of Words: “infirmities”:
weakness, faintness.
The
Background: in the ancient time,
the drinking water was the natural water which was different from the tap-water
today that had been filtered and sterilized by men. And therefore it was not
safe for men to only drink water, especially the sick. At that time they boiled
the water to make it safe for drinking, however, it was inconvenient and
uneconomical in the society in which the fuel was short. And therefore the most
convenient way is to mingle a little wine to sterilize water by the alcohol in
wine and it is much safer to drink such water. And the content of alcohol in
such water was very low and some men held that wine in the Bible (See Lev.
10:8; Luke. 1:15) was wine with water.
Literal Meaning: “your stomach's sake and
your frequent infirmities” it is the
parenthesis and apparently it does not connect with the content, however, it
shows Paul’s concern to the health of Timothy. Actually this verse is inserted
into this passage, implying that one’s physical condition probably influences
his spiritual judgments and dealings.
“No
longer drink only water, but use a little wine” “use a little wine” refers to drinking water with
a little wine.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord allows weakness stay in His servants,
showing that He did not remove all diseases when He bore our diseases; He did
not remove all infirmities when He took our infirmities.
2) The Lord Jesus bore our sins on the cross and
sins were fully written off and removed. In the work of the Lord, the dealings
of sins are unlimited and the dealings of diseases are limited.
3) Here the wine is used to treat a disease instead
of enjoyment. Believers had better not drink so as to not be drunk (See Eph.
5:18), lest we be addicted to wine. However, we could use a little wine if
necessary.
4) God wishes us to prosper in health, just as our
soul prospers (3John. 2). Keeping healthy not only profits the spiritual life
but also is helpful in serving God.
1Tim. 5:24 “Some men's sins are
clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow
later.”
YLT: “of
certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and
certain also they follow after;”
Literal Meaning: “Some men's sins are clearly
evident, preceding them to judgment”
It means that their sins have been manifested before the normal judgment.
“But
those of some men follow later” it means that the
sins are quite hidden and careful check are needed to disclose them.
1Tim. 5:25 “Likewise, the good works
of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.”
YLT:
“in
like manner also the right works are manifest beforehand, and those that
are
otherwise are not able to be hid.”
Literal Meaning: “Likewise, the good works of
some are clearly evident” “likewise” refers
to the same principle in v.24; “the good works” stresses on behavior opposite
to sins, i.e. innocence. “Are clearly evident” indicates that if others treats
some people unjustly and bring in false charges against them, they will be
cleared up quickly. Their kindness and uprightness are obvious to all.
“And
those that are otherwise cannot be hidden” it indicates that the wrongful treatments of some
people cannot be manifested immediately, however, the whole thing will come to
light finally if the careful check is made.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men’s good works and evil works have the open
aspect and the hidden aspect and therefore we should not judge men merely by
sight but observe and discover men carefully.
2) There is nothing covered that will not be
revealed, and hidden that will not be known (Matt. 10:26). Serving the Lord in
the church, we should know one's subordinates well enough to assign them jobs
commensurate with their abilities and ask the Lord to give us the sober and
calm spirit and the keen sight to discern men (See 1Cor. 2:11, 14-16).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Different Kinds of Widows
II. Any widow has
children or grandchildren (v.4).
III. A widow who is
left alone and trusts in God (v.5).
IV. A widow who
lives in pleasure (v.6).
V. A widow who is
over sixty (v.9).
VI. The younger
widows (v.11, 14).
The Conditions that the Church Relieve
Widows
I. They do not have
children or grandchildren (v.4).
II. They are left
alone, do not have relatives and truly trust in God (v.5, 8).
III. They do not
live in pleasure, or learn to be idle or busybodies (v.6,13).
IV. They are over
sixty (v.9).
V. She has been the
wife of one man and does not intend to remarry (v.9, 11-12).
VI. They are well
reported for good works (v.10).
How to Deal with the Elders who Are Sinning
I. Do not receive an
accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses (v.19).
II. Observe cases
without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality (v.21).
III. Pay attention
to sins and the good works that are hidden and not evident (v.24-25).
IV. Rebuke those who
are sinning in the presence of all once the accusation is proved true (v.20).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren