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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 5
Saints are to care for their worthy poor—Policies concerning elders
are set forth.
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1
aREBUKE not an elder, but
bintreat him as a father; and the younger men
as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as
asisters, with all purity.
3 Honour awidows that are
widows indeed.
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4 But if any widow have
achildren or bnephews, let them learn
first to shew cpiety at home, and to requite their parents:
for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and
adesolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications
and prayers night and day.
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6 But she that liveth ain
bpleasure is dead while she liveth.
7 And these things agive in
charge, that they may be blameless.
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8 But if any aprovide not for
his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith,
and is worse than an infidel.
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number
under threescore years aold, having been the wife of one
man,
10 Well reported of for good works; if she
have brought up children, if she have alodged strangers, if
she have bwashed the saints' cfeet, if
she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good
work.
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11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12 Having adamnation,
because they have cast off their first faith.
13 And withal they learn to be
aidle, wandering about from house to house; and not only
idle, but tattlers also and bbusybodies, speaking things
which they ought not.
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14 I awill therefore that
the younger bwomen marry, bear cchildren,
guide the dhouse, give none occasion to the adversary to
speak reproachfully.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any man or woman that believeth have
widows, let them arelieve them, and let not the church be
bcharged; that it may relieve them that are widows
indeed.
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17 Let the aelders that rule
well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the
word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not
amuzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The
blabourer is worthy of his
creward.
19 Against an elder receive not an accusation,
but before two or three awitnesses.
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20 Them that sin arebuke
before all, that others also may fear.
21 I charge thee before God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect aangels, that thou observe
these things bwithout preferring one before another, doing
nothing by partiality.
22 aLay
bhands suddenly on no cman, neither be
dpartaker of other men's sins: keep thyself
epure.
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23 Drink no longer water, but use a little
winea for thy stomach's sake and
thine often infirmities.
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going
before to judgment; and some men they afollow
after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
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23a Drink no longer water, but use a
little wine Paul's direction here is of a needful health code in
such populous regions where the water is no longer pure for drinking. A
'little' wine alcohol was of necessity as a desinfectant against the germs
and diseases which impure water could carry. This was not an instruction to
be an abuser of alcohol and strong drink but a health directive likely also
condoned and persuaded by Paul's companion, the phycian Luke.
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