Day 195 – Tuesday, September 30, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Timothy 5

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Treatment of Church Members

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. 

(1 Timothy 5:1–2, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul started this chapter with an instruction to Timothy not to rebuke an older man. This was seen as an expression of honor.
• He instructed him to exhort everyone according to their status in the community, including younger men, older women and younger women.
• He told Timothy to behave in a way that exhibits purity of thought and intention.

Honor True Widows

³ Honor widows who are really widows. 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. ⁵ Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. ⁷ And these things command, that they may be blameless. 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.

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, 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.

¹¹ But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹² having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 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. ¹⁴ Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some have already turned aside after Satan. 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. 

(1 Timothy 5:3–16, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul instructed Timothy to honor widows who are truly without help from their family. Some widows had family that could care for them, and still wanted the church to support them. Paul said here that those with families should be cared for by their families.
• He also addressed the need for widows to trust in God and not chase after pleasure.
• He then says that those who do not care for their own families are worse than an unbeliever.
• Paul then gave specific instructions. Do not take a widow under 60 into the direct care of the church, and then only if she has been an exemplary wife and mother. He said that the church should not take care of a young widow, for they are likely to remarry, or at the least be busybodies and gossips. While this seems a bit harsh, he was likely dealing with several cases where this had borne true.
• He encouraged the younger widows to go ahead and remarry, in order to not be tempted to sin.
• He also instructed the families to care for their own widows, and not burden the church.

Honor the Elders

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 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.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

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. ²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.

²³ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.

²⁴ Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden. 

(1 Timothy 5:17–25, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then turned his attention to the need to honor elders in the church.
• Paul said that elders (pastors, leaders) who lead their congregations well should be given honor in a way that was above and beyond, especially those that teach and preach the word.
• Paul endorsed pastors being paid by using the analogy of an ox that is allowed to eat from the grain it ground. He also made provision for elders to not be accused of wrong unless there were two or three witnesses to corroborate the sin. However, if an elder was found guilty, they should be rebuked openly so that others will be deterred from sin.
• Timothy was then admonished to not show partiality or prejudice. He was to keep himself pure in his dealings with others. Paul told Timothy to use a little wine for his digestion, obviously a reference to an ongoing problem Timothy had dealt with. This was for medicinal purposes.
• Finally, Paul urged Timothy to use discernment. Some people’s sins are clearly evident, but others are revealed after some time. The same is true of good works. However, recognize and discern to know the truth in all things
• In this chapter, Paul is teaching Timothy how to be a good leader. He is sharing his own experience and practices learned over several years. Paul is leaving his legacy in Timothy and others like him who followed Paul in the faith. Let us leave legacies all over the world in people in whom we invested.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.