Timothy was left to deal with the various problems brought by the different classes of the former pagans that came into the church. The church suffered from discipline problems that came not only from the people but also from the elders. Admonitions and instructions concerning the elders and others were therefore in order.

Paul had to give rules on behaviour, so that the church would function properly and be able to carry out its powerful and unique divine mandate. We recall that the church was termed “ the house of God”, and  “ the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”. 

The church was no ordinary body for that was where God lived. This body was the base from which God operated and in a confused and bewildered world, filled with mistaken ideas and illusions, God intended for the church to defend the truth. 

Paul gave special attention to the elders before he gave instructions on the behavior of the other members, for clearly if the leaders were not able to guide the church in it’s proper function, there would be the disaster of apostasy and demonic control. 

There had to be a core group of godly men and women whose constant drive was to walk rightly before God.  They had to be examples in word as well as deed. 

Note carefully what these Scriptures now teach. The basic lesson Paul teaches is that the way we treat people depends on how we see them.  Christians, believers in Jesus, ought to have a different view of people than that which is accepted by the world.

THE TEXT

Verse 1. Timothy was instructed that they were elements and circumstances that determined how people were to be treated. 

He was to view the older men in the congregation as his own ‘father’, and therefore treat the elders with respect and deference as he would treat his father. He was to respect their years of experience and their ability to have survived the many crises in their life, which had developed their understanding and wisdom over the years. 

The way to win them over and make them inclined to work with him and give him their best, instead of opposing him because of his youth, was to be tender with them, instead of rebuking them sharply. Rather, he should entreat them as he would a father. Exhorting them apparently would be wiser, better and a more effective technique than rebuke. 

The way to treat young men was to be based on viewing them as though they were his brothers. They should be regarded as his family members, not his rivals or his enemies, but as his brothers.  They should be dealt with honesty, concern and love, and any rebuke should be done as to brethren.

A leader, a young pastor or any pastor must obviously be beyond reproach in his conduct, in his intentions, attitudes and dealings with young women in the congregation. Obviously there will be times when a young leader will develop a romantic relationship that might lead him to marry a young woman in the congregation, but normally he should behave as a brother to them, helping them and protecting them. 

This recalls the advice given in the only book in the Bible dedicated to romantic love. The great advice that is given in Song of Solomon 2:7, and repeated in 3:5 and 8:4 states:

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that when dealing with younger women, there should be caution and he must proceed with all purity. 

That advice holds good today.  Many leaders that have fallen should have paid more attention to this apostolic admonition.

Verse 3.   To understand this verse, we must remember that in the first century, how to properly deal with widows was a delicate problem.  The first recorded problem in the early church after the ‘Day of Pentecost’ tells us of the murmuring of widows that had been neglected in the daily distribution of food. 

In those days practically every woman was married and placed under the care of her husband.  When a woman no longer had a husband she was in serious trouble, for there was often no one to protect her and to provide for her.  There were only a few business women who found a trade that could support them. Lydia the seller of purple that Paul met at Philippi was such a person.  Another mentioned in Scripture was Phoebe, apparently a business woman who traveled and who we read about in Romans 16. 

‘Real’ widows were ‘destitute women’, with no means of support from family.  They were unable to support themselves adequately and so the church being their extended family stepped in, in the absence of natural family. To be a widow was to be deprived and in dire straits.  God in Jeremiah 49:11 had sworn even when speaking of disciplining those that were wicked:

“ Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let my widows trust in me”. See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 10:14; 68:5 and other passages. 

The problem then was to properly assess who was a “real” widow, and thus entitled to support from the church.   

Paul emphasized however that the “ real” widows were to be treated with respect and “ honored”, fulfilling the command to honor father and mother.

Verse 4.  Here Paul dealt with the qualifications that would determine a “real” widow, that is one qualified for church support.  There are about five considerations. 

“Real” widows had no family to help them.  In the normal case, it was the responsibility of the family to take care of their members and so children or grandchildren should learn to do their duty and support their parents. When parents were supported, this pleased God and the  principle also applies to us today. 

Of course in our society, often widows have independent income, the possibility of jobs, insurance settlements and government support where necessary, because of poverty or age.  They might not need material support to the extent necessary in Paul’s day, but they still have emotional needs that the church can still address, by paying them reverence, respect, showing love, compassion and concern. 

The grace of God can be seen when children supply the needs of their older parents, visiting them often, sharing their life with them and allowing them to be an important part of their life.   

There is a great ministry available to older people who want to visit other older people in their homes. There is also a great ministry available to young people who are prepared to be ‘ substitute’ children to older parents who do not have anyone to look out for them. 

God observes these things says Paul, for God is concerned about the weak and helpless. These ministries are good and acceptable before God.

Verse 5.  Those ‘real’ widows supported by the church were to be given a spiritual ministry. They were to be involved in supporting the church with the hard work of making ‘prayers’ and ‘supplications night and day. Note that this gift of prayer is a marvellous work and Paul called on the older women to exercise the gift.  

The widow Anna is an excellent example of one who was always in the temple serving God with fasting and prayer night and day (Luke 2:37).

Verse 6.  In this regard it must be noted that widows who simply spend the declining years of their life entertaining themselves by partying and traveling mainly, are missing out on this great ministry, which would bring countless blessing and comfort to the church. Here is an opportunity for them to build up treasures for themselves in heaven.   

Note, a person is never too old to bring tremendous blessings to the church, the body of Christ. 

Those widows who were only interested in enjoying themselves for their remaining years, living for pleasure and having no interest in praying for the church, were considered by the Apostle as already dead. 

It is terrible to see older people who live only to satisfy the flesh.  On the other hand it is wonderful to see the older women who are godly, working to benefit others to the very end of life.  That is true love for the brethren.

In the strongest way possible Paul emphasized this responsibility.  It was the minimum required for a Christian man, Paul said.  If a man was not willing to provide for his relatives and for his own family, he was not living like a Christian at all. 

Paul's hard words must be placed in context, for an examination of first century life shows that both in the Jewish and pagan world a man was expected to take care of his family. Families were always expected to take care of their older parents. Any deviation from this made that man ‘unworthy’. 

In fact, the Athenians would not allow any man, including high officials, to speak in public and hold office, if there was any proven charge that he had not supported his family or his older parents. Even the Romans considered it shocking and disgraceful if one did not meet the emotional and financial needs of family and parents.  

There is some argument over whether this verse teaches that they should be two classes of elders, some ruling or administering and others teaching.  The general consensus seems to be however that all elders are to both preach and teach, using Scripture to show the direction of life.

One writer Matthew Henry comments:

“Some have imagined that by the elders that rule well the apostle means lay-elders, who were employed in ruling but not in teaching, who were concerned in church government, but did not meddle with the administration of the word and sacraments: and I confess this is the plainest text of scripture that can be found to countenance such an opinion. But it seem a little strange that mere ruling elders to be accounted worthy of double honour, when the apostle preferred preaching to baptizing, and much more would he prefer it to ruling the church; and it is more strange that the apostle should take no notice of them when he treats of church-officers; but, as it is hinted before, they had not, in the primitive church, one to  preach to them and another to rule them, but ruling and teaching were performed by the same person, only some might labour more in the word and doctrine than others.

Here we have, (1) The work of ministers; it consists principally in two things: ruling well and labouring in the word and doctrine. This was the main business of elders or presbyters  in the days of the apostles. (2) The honour due to those who were not idle, but laborious in this work; they were worthy of double honour, esteem, and maintenance.” 

This established the principle that those who worked deserved to be paid.  Jesus was in total agreement with this principle.  See his statements in Luke 10:7. 

Of course there's another side to this.  The other side is that if elders are not teaching and feeding the flock, then they do not deserve support. They should work for a living like everyone else.

Then the accused must face these witnesses.

Clearly then this must be a well-organized and serious inquiry, so that the reputation of the elder was not damaged by unfounded allegations.

Verse 20.  Those that sinned and the language specifically include elders, should be rebuked publicly, so that others would see that when they sinned, they too would also be rebuked and they would fear.  Sin among leaders should be addressed forthrightly, so that there would be a fear of sin among the entire church.

Let us remember that this kind of public rebuke is a very important thing to do but it is also a difficult thing to do.  It is really designed for the good of others. 

The effectiveness of a church and the witness of a church, can only be effective if it follows Scripture and acts in such a way that it maintains proper reverence and appreciation for the standards set by God.

With his kind of power, Timothy likely might have been inclined to support the close friends he had made among the leadership.

 His desire for their friendship however should not stop him from doing what was necessary if an elder misbehaved.  Neither should he draw back when strong personalities among the elders did what was wrong. 

Timothy was reminded that the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect Angels were observing his behaviour.  They were intimately involved in the affairs of the church. The angels are ministering spirits. God the Father is always watching and so is Jesus. Jesus is the Head of the church. It is his body.  

The people of God are surrounded by friends, said Paul. Timothy should not worry about others or be intimidated by what they might do.  He should always do what was right. 

The church of God tends to forget that God is always watching and that nothing is hid from his eyes.  If we were more aware of the omniscience of God and what this means, we would probably sin less.

Verse 22.  This verse is often misinterpreted. Translators have generally accepted however that the term ‘Lay hands suddenly on no man… is used in the sense that Paul is cautioning Timothy to let a man prove himself before he is recognized in ministry.

When elders laid hands on another man, it was in recognition that the individual was chosen by God. Timothy was warned to be careful and not to be hasty. 

Their gifts, abilities and qualifications should be carefully looked at and tested before any decision was made.  Any rash move in this area would involve him being accountable before God. 

Verse 23.  Here Paul gives Timothy some personal medical advice.  Timothy apparently was quite dedicated and was careful not to do anything that he thought would negatively affect his ministry. He tried to totally abstain from wine, so that no one could accuse him of being like the dissolute Ephesians. 

Water in the ancient world was often not pure and so Paul warned him against drinking the normally impure water.  Still in view of his frequent infirmities (some writers think that he was afflicted by a running stomach) he should drink some wine to prevent stomach upsets, dysentery, or diarrhea. 

Clearly the text shows that total abstinence is not a religious obligation, even though it is not wise to frequently expose oneself to the effects of alcohol. It is also clear, as one writer points out:

“ Timothy was the victim of frequent infirmities yet Paul did not simply command a healing on apostolic authority, or even send him a handkerchief with healing power (Act 19:11-12).

Paul did not have miraculous powers at his beck and call, but only at the prompting of the Holy Spirit-and apparently, there was no such prompting in Timothy's case.

If it is God will for all to be healed right now, then Paul (and the Holy Spirit who inspired him) led Timothy into sin-calling him to look to a natural remedy instead of a divine healing”.

Verse 24.   Timothy like us, was instructed how to observe men over a period of time. It is difficult when we look at men's conduct, the character of those in the church, to always tell where they really stand.

It is easy to see good works but it is not so easy to see sins, for they are often hidden. 

Note that there are open sins and they are secret sins. Those that sin openly should be confronted and brought to repentance, but there will always be others that will sin in such a way, that only God can bring their sins and the desires and plans of their heart into the public view. 

Many will think that they can hide their sins, but God will bring these to the light one day, said Paul.  Many will appear very dedicated and so men should always be carefully observed over time, warned Paul.  There should be no hasty judgment when it comes to leadership.

Paul charged his young friend to be very careful in his office for Heaven was watching him. He had to give an account to God as to whether or not he had done everything as he ought. 

Let us remember that God is concerned for his church.  He has told us plainly what he wants the church to be and what he wants us to be.