Chapter Five
1 Tim. 5:1. Do not rebuke an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men, as brothers.
The apostle is not speaking about one who holds the rank of presbyter in the Church, but about every aged person. But what if he needs correction? In that case, he says, treat him as a father.
1 Tim. 5:2. The elder women, as mothers.
Since reproof is hard to bear, especially when a young man reproves an old one—then it becomes triply reckless—therefore, he says, you should soften it with gentleness.
1 Tim. 5:2. Young women, as sisters.
Since this age is characterized by great boldness and does not tolerate reproofs, therefore, he says, one must soften them with condescension.
1 Tim. 5:2. With all purity.
Since conversations with young women give rise to suspicions, and yet a bishop must converse with them too, you, he says, must not only guard against sinful union, but must not give any occasion for suspicion either. The Apostle commands this to Timothy not for his sake, but for ours, the subsequent bishops, so that we might guard against suspicions.
1 Tim. 5:3. Honor widows, those who are truly widows.
Why does he say nothing about virgins? Perhaps because there were none of them there yet. He commands to honor widows because they do not have husbands who would advocate for them, and their very condition seemed shameful and worthy of reproach. Therefore they should enjoy great respect from the priest, and most of all because they are worthy of it, as "true widows." And what kind of widows are these? – you will see further on. Consequently, one can be without a husband and still not be a widow. The expression "honor" stands in place of: be merciful to them and provide them with what they need.
1 Tim. 5:4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show reverence to their own family (εὐσεβεῖν).
That is, let children and grandchildren learn to honor their mother, providing her with rest and sustenance. For εὐσεβεῖν – "to act piously" here means – to give rest to one's mother or grandmother in old age. The dignity of parents is a divine dignity, so that to give them rest means to be pious, and conversely, not to give them rest in old age is impiety.
1 Tim. 5:4. And to render what is due to parents, for this is pleasing to God.
Render to parents, that is, to mother or grandmother. Notice the prudence of Paul, how he touches upon a noble feeling, namely the feeling of rendering to parents for their upbringing and nurturing. To this he also adds the reason: "for this is pleasing to God."
1 Tim. 5:5. The true widow and one left alone hopes in God.
Having said above: honor those widows who are true widows, and not those who are not true, that is, those who have someone to care for them, he now says who is a true widow: she, he says, who has no one to look after her, has neither son nor grandson, and has placed all her hope in God. This is the kind of woman one should care for, this is the kind one should show mercy to, providing her with everything she needs.
1 Tim. 5:5. And she continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
And rightly so. For, having no one else, she turns to God. Since they were probably grieving because they had absolutely no protectors, the apostle comforts them with the fact that in place of everything they have God. If she who raises her own children receives a reward, then your dignity is not diminished by the fact that you have no children.
1 Tim. 5:6. But she who lives in pleasure (σπαταλῶσα) is dead while she lives.
Since many women choose widowhood in order to indulge themselves with greater independence, he says: the pleasure-loving (σπαταλῶσα) woman, though she appears to live this sensual life, has died in spirit. But if it is impermissible for a woman to give herself over to pleasures, where in any case both nature and age often prove weak, what shall pleasure-loving men say?
1 Tim. 5:7. And these things command, that they may be blameless.
You see that he desires this to be a law. He does not leave it to one's discretion whether to indulge in pleasures or not, but forbids it as a sin. For such is the meaning of the word "command" (παράγγελλε); it stands in place of: with all strictness forbid anyone to dare to do this.
1 Tim. 5:8. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household.
A pleasure-loving woman, he says, has already died and perished because she devotes all her care to herself. Meanwhile, one must care "for one's own," that is, the faithful, "and especially for those of the household," that is, those belonging to one's family — he means every kind of care, both for the soul and for the body.