1 Timothée 5:21 Commentaire

Here the apostle, I. Directs Timothy how to reprove (Ti1 5:1, Ti1 5:2). II. Adverts to widows, both elder and younger (Ti1 5:3-16). III. To elders (Ti1 5:17-19). IV. Treats of public reproof (Ti1 5:20). V. Gives a solemn charge concerning ordination (Ti1 5:21, Ti1 5:22). VI. Refers to his health (Ti1 5:23), and states men's sins to be very different in their effects (Ti1 5:24, Ti1 5:25).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 TIMOTHY 5 In this chapter the apostle lays down rules about the manner of rebuking persons, suitable to their several ages; gives directions concerning widows, both old and young; and instructs Timothy how to behave towards elders in office on different accounts. The rules for giving reproof to old men, as fathers; to young men, as brethren; to elder women, as mothers; and to the younger, as sisters, are in Ti1 5:1. Next follow the directions about taking care of widows, who are to be honoured and maintained by the church, that are widows indeed, Ti1 5:3 not such who have relations that are capable of taking care of them, who ought to do it, and not burden the church; since so to do is an act of piety, a requiting parents for their former care and kindness, and is good and acceptable in the sight of God, Ti1 5:4 but such who are desolate and alone, and have no husbands nor children, nor any to support their wants, but wholly depend on the providence of God, and are constant at the throne of grace crying for help and relief, which shows they are living Christians; whereas such who spend their time in sinful lusts and pleasures, are dead while they live; wherefore if members of churches, with respect to this business, would be blameless, they ought to take care of the former, and reprove the latter, Ti1 5:5. And as for those persons who cast their poor widows upon the church, and will not provide for them, when they are able, they are to be looked upon as deniers of the faith, and to be worse than the Heathens themselves, Ti1 5:8. The qualifications of widows to be taken care of by the church, besides those before mentioned, are, that they be sixty years of age, having been the wife of one man, and well known for their good works, some of which are particularly mentioned, Ti1 5:9 but those who are under the age fixed, and especially are fit for marriage, and the procreation of children, should be rejected, because of their lasciviousness, idleness, tattling, and busying themselves about other people's matters; these, on the contrary, should be directed to marry, bear children, take care of household affairs, and give no occasion to the enemy to reproach and blaspheme; and the rather such advice should be taken, since there had been some sad instances of apostasy in such persons, Ti1 5:11. And then the apostle repeats his order to believers, to take care of their poor widows, who were able to do it themselves, that so the church might not be burdened, and might be able to relieve such as were real and proper objects, Ti1 5:16. And then follow rules with respect to elders in office, as that those that rule well, and labour in the ministry of the word, should be honourably maintained; which is confirmed by a passage of Scripture in the Old Testament, and by a saying of Christ's in the New, Ti1 5:17, that an accusation should not be received against one of such a character, but by two or three witnesses, Ti1 5:19 and that such of them that fell into any notorious sin should be publicly rebuked, in order to make others afraid to sin, Ti1 5:20. And these things the apostle, in the most solemn manner, charges Timothy, in the sight of God, Christ, and the angels, to observe, without partiality, Ti1 5:21. To which he adds, that he would not have him be hastily concerned in the ordination of anyone as an elder, lest he should involve himself in his sin, whereas by acting otherwise he would be free, Ti1 5:22 and then inserts some advice to himself, to take care of his health, Ti1 5:23 and concludes the chapter with observing, on occasion of what he had said, Ti1 5:22 that some men's sins were open, and their characters were easily discerned, and others were private, and such were also the good works of others; which made the case either more easy or more difficult to determine what was to be done; and therefore nothing should be done suddenly and rashly, Ti1 5:24.

Lay hands suddenly on no man,.... Which is not to be understood of removing censures from off offenders, upon their repentance, which should not be suddenly and hastily done; and which it seems in later times has been done by imposition of hands; but since no such custom obtained in the apostle's time, and a taking off of censures is never in Scripture signified by this phrase, it cannot be intended here; but rather the admission of persons into the work of the ministry, and the installing of them into the office of an or pastor; upon whom, in these early times, hands were laid by the apostles, whereby gifts were conveyed, as on Timothy; See Gill on Ti1 4:14. And from this rite this act was so called, as it might be when it was laid aside; just as, with the Jews, an ordination of one of their doctors is called "imposition of hands", though they performed it by words, and not by laying on of hands; which now by them is not judged necessary (l): and then the sense is, do not hastily and at once admit any person into the sacred work of the ministry, or constitute him an elder, or pastor, over a church of Christ; but let him be first proved, and let it plainly appear, that he has the grace of God in him, and has gifts for public service bestowed on him; that he is sound in faith, and of a good life and conversation; and a man of uprightness and fidelity; neither be partaker of other men's sins; of any of the members of the church; by doing the same, joining with them therein, or by consenting to them and taking pleasure in them, as done by others; by conniving at them, and not restraining them, nor reproving for them: or rather this refers to rash and hasty ordinations of ministers; and either regards the sins of those who lay hands suddenly on men, and with whom the apostle would not have Timothy join, that he might not be a partner in their sins; or else the sins of those that are ordained, and these, whether before or after their ordination; which such involve themselves in, who either rashly and ignorantly ordain such persons; and much more if they do it, knowing them to be such: and these sins may include both immorality and error; see . Keep thyself pure; not from his own sins, the sin of nature, indwelling sin, and actual transgressions; no man is, or can be pure, from either of these; nor can any man keep himself; Christ only is able to keep them from falling. But the apostle's meaning is, that he should keep himself pure from the sins of others, by not rashly and suddenly admitting any into the ministry; just as the apostle was pure from the blood of all men, by faithfully preaching the Gospel; so he suggests that Timothy would be pure from partaking of other men's sins, by observing a strict discipline in the house of God. Some refer this to chastity of body, in opposition to the sin of uncleanness, which his youthful age and the temptations about him might expose him to the danger of; and which is scandalous and infamous in a minister of the word. Which sense serves to show the connection of the following words, which otherwise seem to stand unconnected. (l) Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 1. sect. 3. & Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. Juthasin, fol. 60. 1. & Maimon. Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 1, 2.

Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us; let us honour the aged among us; let us train up the young men in the fear of God; let us direct our wives to that which is good. Let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity [in all their conduct]; let them show forth the sincere disposition of meekness; let them make manifest the command which they have of their tongue, by their manner of speaking; let them display their love, not by preferring one to another, but by showing equal affection to all that piously fear God.

Just as they carefully prepared their will and testament, and committed it to a trust, and adjured (the trustees to be faithful to their charge), even so do I hold it.

Having spoken of Bishops and Deacons, of men, and women, of widows and elders, and of all others, and having shown how great was the authority of a Bishop, now he was speaking of judgment, he has added, "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." Thus fearfully he charges him. For though Timothy was his beloved son, he did not therefore stand in awe of him. For as he was not ashamed to say of himself, "Lest by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away" (1 Cor. ix. 27); much less would he be afraid or ashamed in the case of Timothy. He called the Father and the Son to witness. But wherefore the elect Angels? From great moderation, as Moses said, "I call heaven and earth to witness" (Deut. iv. 26); and again, "Hear ye, O mountains, and strong foundations of the earth." (Mic. vi. 2.) He calls the Father and the Son to witness what he has said, making his appeal to Them against that future Day, that if anything should be done that ought not to be done, he was clear from the guilt of it. "That thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality." That is, that thou deal impartially and equally between those who are upon trial and are to be judged by thee, that no one may pre-occupy thy mind, or gain thee over to his side beforehand. But who are the elect Angels? It is because there are some not elect. As Jacob calls to witness God and the heap (Gen. xxxi. 45), so we often take at once superior and inferior persons to witness; so great a thing is testimony. As if he had said, I call to witness God and His Son and His servants, that I have charged thee: so before them I charge thee. He impresses Timothy with fear.

I seriously charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels to keep these instructions without bias, and to do nothing out of favoritism. I seriously charge you before God. Paul warns of severity. For Timothy did not simply resign, but protested, securing himself in case anything improper should happen. But why did Paul call the Father and the Son as witnesses, and also angels together? Because they, along with their Lord who is to come in judgment, are present and will bear witness to the discourse. It is also our custom to call both superiors and inferiors as witnesses. And Jacob also took God and the mountain as witnesses. (Gen. 31:46) and the elect angels. He said "elect angels," because angels and demons alike are cast away. — [OECUMENIUS] Either he spoke what was truly the case, or he brought them to the brink of ruin. [end of the excerpt by Oecumenius A f. 173v; B f. 209τ; G f. 297r] — to keep these instructions without bias. This, for example, is what he said: Without haste in judgment, that is, so that you do nothing rashly or recklessly from what has been said, and not without preceding judgment or counsel. and to do nothing out of favoritism. Indeed, presumptions are often devoid of truth. For favoritism [πρόσκλησις] is an affectation that incites someone to do something without judgment. without bias. That is, without falling into the judgment and punishment of disobedience for someone who has erred in something. Thus Clement in the seventh book of Hypotyposes. And Basil, in his interpretation of the Proverbs, says, According to inclination, that is, not leaning towards what is wrong, but bringing forth straight judgment. For he says thus: Doing nothing according to inclination, but bringing forth judgments straight and unaltered.

Having said much in the words cited above, he now begins to speak as in a court and in doing so adjures Timothy most solemnly. He was not ashamed to safeguard even Timothy with such an exhortation. For if he said of himself, "lest, having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27), then all the more was he not ashamed to say this concerning Timothy. He calls the Father and the Son as witnesses so that on the coming day of judgment, if anything were done contrary to duty, he might remain blameless, since he had strictly exhorted him. Why does he add the angels as well? Because on the day of judgment the angels will solemnly accompany the Lord. And we too have a custom of taking as witnesses both important and insignificant persons. Jacob also takes as witnesses God and the hill. And Moses says, "I call heaven and earth to witness" (Deut. 4:26). For God is so gracious toward us that He accepts even servants brought together with Him as witnesses. He called the angels "elect" because the demons are also angels, but rejected ones. That is, be impartial toward those who are being judged, so that there be no preliminary decision, that is, so that no one prejudices you and, drawing you to their side in advance, disposes you to pronounce judgment and render a decision. Do nothing "by partiality," inclining to one side. It is as if he were saying: one side invites you to help it; so do not act according to this invitation.

Then he says, I charge you, before God. Because the ecclesiastical judge acts in God's person in a special way when he judges; therefore, he charges him before God to judge justly. For he must argue his case in public in such a way that he does not scorn God's judgment. On this point he reminds him of three things: first, God's authority, because God the Father will judge him with authority; hence he says, before God: you shall judge the whole earth (Gen 18:25). Second, Christ as man will be sitting as judge: he has given him power to do judgment, because he is the Son of man (John 5:27). Hence he says, and Christ Jesus. Third, the angels will be ministers: when the Son of man shall come in his majesty and all the angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his majesty (Matt 25:31); that is why he adds, and the elect angels: you renew your witnesses against me (Job 10:17). Then when he says, observe these things without prejudice, he warns him against rash judgment, saying, without prejudice, i.e., that he should not proceed rashly but with deliberation, doing nothing by declining to either side. Or without prejudice, i.e., without previous discussion: do no important thing without judgment (Sir 33:30); the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently (Job 29:16); otherwise, you will not be acting as mediator between two parties: you shall not go aside in the poor man's judgment (Exod 23:6).

Rules to be observed in giving reproofs to the old and to the young, Ti1 5:1, Ti1 5:2. Directions concerning widows, Ti1 5:3-16. Of elders that rule well, Ti1 5:17, Ti1 5:18. How to proceed against elders when accused, and against notorious offenders, Ti1 5:10-21. Directions concerning imposition of hands, Ti1 5:22. Concerning Timothy's health, Ti1 5:23. Reasons why no person should be hastily appointed to sacred offices, Ti1 5:24, Ti1 5:25.

I charge thee before God - The apostle would have Timothy to consider that all he did should be done as in the sight of God, the Father of the spirits of all flesh; in the sight of Christ, the Savior of sinners, who purchased the Church with his own blood; and in the sight of the most holy, approved, and eminent angels, whose office it was to minister to the heirs of salvation. The word εκλεκτοι, elect, applied to the angels here, is supposed to distinguish those who stood, when others fell from their first estate. The former were elect, or approved; the latter reprobate, or disapproved. This is not an unfrequent sense of the word εκλεκτος, elect. Perhaps there is nothing else meant than the angels that are chosen out from among others, by the Lord himself, to be ministering servants to the Church. Without preferring one before another - Χωρις προκριματος· Without prejudice. Promote no man's cause; make not up thy mind on any case, till thou hast weighed both sides, and heard both parties, with their respective witnesses; and then act impartially, as the matter may appear to be proved. Do not treat any man, in religious matters, according to the rank he holds in life, or according to any personal attachment thou mayest have for him. Every man should be dealt with in the Church as he will be dealt with at the judgment-seat of Christ. A minister of the Gospel, who, in the exercise of discipline in the Church, is swayed and warped by secular considerations, will be a curse rather than a blessing to the people of God. Accepting the persons of the rich, in ecclesiastical matters, has been a source of corruption in Christianity. With some ministers the show of piety in a rich man goes farther than the soundest Christian experience in the poor. What account can such persons give of their stewardship?

GENERAL DIRECTIONS AS TO HOW TIMOTHY SHOULD DEAL WITH DIFFERENT CLASSES IN THE CHURCH. (1Ti. 5:1-25) an elder--in age; probably not an elder in the ministry; these latter are not mentioned till Ti1 5:17, "the elders that rule." Compare Act 2:17, "your old men," literally, "elders." Contrasted with "the younger men." As Timothy was admonished so to conduct himself as to give no man reason to despise his youth (Ti1 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 not--literally, "Strike not hard upon"; Rebuke not sharply: a different word from "rebuke" in Ti2 4:2. entreat--exhort. as brethren--and therefore equals; not lording it over them (Pe1 5:1-3).

I charge thee--rather as Greek, "I adjure thee"; so it ought to be translated (Ti2 4:1). before--"in the presence of God." Lord--omitted in the oldest manuscripts God the Father, and Christ the Son, will testify against thee, if thou disregardest my injunction. He vividly sets before Timothy the last judgment, in which God shall be revealed, and Christ seen face to face with His angels elect angels--an epithet of reverence. The objects of divine electing love (Pe1 2:6). Not only "elect" (according to the everlasting purpose of God) in contradistinction to the reprobate angels (Pe2 2:4), but also to mark the excellence of the angels in general (as God's chosen ministers, "holy angels," "angels of light"), and so to give more solemnity to their testimony [CALVIN] as witnesses to Paul's adjuration. Angels take part by action and sympathy in the affairs of the earth (Luk 15:10; Co1 4:9). these things--the injunctions, Ti1 5:19-20. without preferring one before another--rather as Greek, "prejudice"; "judging before" hearing all the facts of a case. There ought to be judgment, but not prejudging. Compare "suddenly," Ti1 5:22, also Ti1 5:24. partiality--in favor of a man, as "prejudice" is bias against a man. Some of the oldest manuscripts read, "in the way of summoning (brethren) before a (heathen) judge." But Vulgate and other good authorities favor the more probable reading in English Version.