| 5:1 | 5:1 Do not address an older man harshly101 tn Or “Do not speak harshly to an older man.” but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,102 tn No verb “speak” is stated in this clause, but it continues the sense of the preceding.
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| 5:2 | 5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity.
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| 5:3 | 5:3 Honor103 sn The word honor here carries the double meaning of respect and financial support. This Greek word can imply both senses, and both are intended in this context. widows who are truly in need.104 tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”
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| 5:4 | 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty105 tn Or “to practice their religion.” toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them.106 tn Or “and so make some repayment to their parents”; Grk “and to give back recompense to their parents.” For this is what pleases God.107 tn Grk “for this is pleasing in the sight of God.”
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| 5:5 | 5:5 But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own,108 tn Or “left all alone.” has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.
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| 5:6 | 5:6 But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even109 tn For “is dead even” the Greek text reads “has died.” while she lives.
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| 5:7 | 5:7 Reinforce110 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. these commands,111 tn Grk “and command these things.” so that they will be beyond reproach.
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| 5:8 | 5:8 But if someone does not provide for his own,112 tn That is, “his own relatives.” especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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| 5:9 | 5:9 No widow should be put on the list113 sn This list was an official enrollment, apparently with a formal pledge to continue as a widow and serve the Lord in that way (cf. v. 12). It was either (1) the list of “true widows” who were given support by the church or (2) a smaller group of older women among the supported widows who were qualified for special service (perhaps to orphans, other widows, the sick, etc.). Most commentators understand it to be the former, since a special group is not indicated clearly. See G. W. Knight, Pastoral Epistles, 222-23 for discussion. unless114 tn Grk “let a widow be enrolled if she has reached not less than sixty years.” she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,115 tn Or “a woman married only once,” “was devoted solely to her husband” (see the note on “wife” in 1 Tim 3:2; also 1 Tim 3:12; Titus 1:6).
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| 5:10 | 5:10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children,116 tn Grk “if she raised children.” The phrase “if she raised children” begins a series of conditional clauses running to the end of the verse. These provide specific examples of her good works (v. 10a). practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.117 tn Grk “followed after every good work.”
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| 5:11 | 5:11 But do not accept younger widows on the list,118 tn Grk “refuse younger widows.” because their passions may lead them away from Christ119 tn With a single verb and object, this clause means “pursue sensuous desires in opposition to Christ.” and they will desire to marry,
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| 5:12 | 5:12 and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.120 tn Grk “incurring judgment because they reject their first faith.”
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| 5:13 | 5:13 And besides that, going around121 tn L&N 15.23 suggests the meaning, “to move about from place to place, with significant changes in direction – ‘to travel about, to wander about.’” from house to house they learn to be lazy,122 tn Or “idle.” The whole clause (“going around from house to house, they learn to be lazy”) reverses the order of the Greek. The present participle περιερχόμεναι (periercomenai) may be taken as temporal (“while going around”), instrumental (“by going around”) or result (“with the result that they go around”). and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.123 tn Grk “saying the things that are unnecessary.” Or perhaps “talking about things that are none of their business.”
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| 5:14 | 5:14 So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.124 tn Grk “for the sake of reviling.”
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| 5:15 | 5:15 For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.125 tn Grk “wandered away after Satan.”
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| 5:16 | 5:16 If a believing woman126 tc Most witnesses (D Ψ Ï sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pisto" h) before πιστή (pisth), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earliest and best witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1175 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading. has widows in her family,127 tn Grk “has widows.” let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.128 tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”
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| 5:17 | 5:17 Elders who provide effective leadership129 tn Grk “who lead well.” must be counted worthy130 tn Or “deserving.” of double honor,131 tn Like the similar use of “honor” in v. 3, this phrase
denotes both respect and remuneration: “honor plus honorarium.” especially those who work hard in speaking132 tn Or “in preaching”; Grk “in word.” and teaching.
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| 5:18 | 5:18 For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”133 sn A quotation from Deut 25:4. and, “The worker deserves his pay.”134 sn A quotation from Luke 10:7.
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| 5:19 | 5:19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.135 sn An allusion to Deut 17:6, 19:15.
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| 5:20 | 5:20 Those guilty of sin136 sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally. must be rebuked137 tn Or “censured.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction. before all,138 tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders. as a warning to the rest.139 tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”
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| 5:21 | 5:21 Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.140 tn Grk “doing nothing according to partiality.”
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| 5:22 | 5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone141 tn In context “laying hands on anyone” refers to ordination or official installation of someone as an elder. hastily and so identify with the sins of others.142 tn Grk “and do not share in the sins of others.” Keep yourself pure.
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| 5:23 | 5:23 (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion143 tn Grk “for the sake of your stomach.” and your frequent illnesses.)144 sn This verse gives parenthetical advice to Timothy, to clarify what it means to keep pure (5:22c). Verse 24 resumes the instructions about elders.
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| 5:24 | 5:24 The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.145 tn Grk “they [the sins] follow after others.”
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| 5:25 | 5:25 Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.
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1 Timotius 5 - NET Bible [draft] Lab
