5:1 Rebuke 1 not an elder, but intreat [him] as a father;
[and] the younger men as brethren;
(1) Of giving personal reprehensions appropriately, according
to the degrees of ages and gender.
5:32a Honour widows that are widows indeed.
(2) The apostle gives these rules concerning the care of widows.
(a) Have care of those widows who have need of help.
5:43 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them
learn first to shew piety 4 at home, and 5 to requite
their parents: 6 for that is good and acceptable before
God.
(3) Widow's children and nephews must take care of their
parents according to their ability.
(4) The first reason, because that which they bestow upon
their parents, they bestow it upon themselves.
(5) Another, because nature itself teaches us to repay our
parents.
(6) The third: because this duty pleases God.
5:57 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth
in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night
and day.
(7) The second rule. Let the church take care of those who are
indeed widows, that is to say, those who are poor and
destitute of help from their own friends, and live godly
and religiously.
5:68 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she
liveth.
(8) The third rule: let widows that live in pleasure, and
neglect the care of their own family, be held and
considered as fallers away from God and his religion, and
worse than the unfaithful themselves.
5:99 Let not a widow be taken into the number under
threescore years old, having been the wife of b one man,
(9) The fourth rule: let none under sixty years old be taken
into the number of widows, to serve the congregations or
churches. And they must be those who are free from every
reproach of immorality, and are well reported of, for their
diligence, charity, and integrity.
(b) That has only ever had one husband at a time.
5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up
children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have c
washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the
afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
(c) This is spoken with regard to the manner of those
countries.
5:1110 But the younger widows d refuse: for when they have
begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
(10) The first reason why younger widows are not to be admitted
to this ministry, that is, because of the unsteadiness of
their age they will at length shake off the burden that
Christ has laid upon them, and think rather upon marrying
again: and so will forsake the ministry to which they
had bound themselves.
(d) Take them not into the assembly of widows.
5:1311 And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about
from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also
and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
(11) Another reason: because they are for the most part gossips
and busybodies, and idly roving up and down, neglecting
their charge and duty.
5:1412 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear
children, guide the house, give none occasion to the
adversary to speak reproachfully.
(12) The fifth rule: let younger widows marry and govern their
houses in a godly way.
5:1613 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let
them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that
it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
(13) The sixth rule: let the faithful help their widows at
their own expense as much as they can, and do not let the
congregation be burdened with these expenses.
5:1714 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of e
double honour, f especially they who labour in the word
and doctrine.
(14) Now he gives rules, and shows how he ought to behave
himself with the elders, that is to say, with the pastors,
and those who have the governance in the discipline of the
church, who is president of their company. The first
rule: let the church or congregation see to this
especially, as God himself has commanded, that the elders
that do their duty well, are honestly supported.
(e) We must be more concerned for them, than for the rest.
(f) There were two types of elders: the one dealt with the
government only, and looked to the behaviour of the
congregation; the other in addition to that, dealt with
both preaching and prayers, to and for the congregation.
5:1915 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before
two or three witnesses.
(15) The second rule: allow no accusation to be considered
against an elder, unless there are two or three witnesses.
5:2016 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may
fear.
(16) The third rule: let the leaders so convicted be openly
rebuked, so that they may be an example to others.
5:2117 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.
(17) The fourth rule: let sincerity be used without any
prejudice or respect of persons in ecclesiastical
proceedings (especially against the elders), because God
himself is present there, and the Lord Jesus Christ with a
multitude of angels.
5:2218 Lay hands g suddenly on no man, neither be partaker
of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
(18) The fifth rule: let the minister lay hands suddenly on no
man. Let him not be faulty in this, either by favouring
any man's folly, or perverse affection. If anything is
not done well by his fellow elders, let him keep his
conscience pure.
(g) As much as you are able, do not rashly admit anyone at
all to any ecclesiastical function.
5:2319 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy
stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.
(19) The sixth rule: let the elders have consideration for
their health, in their diet.
5:2420 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to
judgment; and some [men] they follow after.
(20) Because hypocrites sometimes creep into the ministry, even
though there is ever so great diligence used, the apostle
wishes the pastors not to be therefore troubled, or slack
at all in their diligence in trying and examining, because
the Lord has appointed a time to discover the faults of
such men, and it is our duty to take heed that we do not
offend in our trying and examining.
5:2521 Likewise also the good works [of some] are manifest
beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
(21) Another comfort belonging to them, who are sometimes
slandered and misreported.
