“1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1–2 (ESV)
The first two verses of I Timothy 5 conclude the Apostle Paul’s admonitions to his young protégé Timothy concerning his personal pastoral ministry. Beginning in I Timothy 5:3-6:2, Paul provided Timothy instructions regarding pastoring specific people groups within the church.
Dr. William Hendriksen writes, “Up to this point Paul has imparted counsel with respect to matters most of which touched the entire Christian community which had its center in Ephesus. He has stated the reason why Timothy had been left in Ephesus (chapter 1), has given directions for the conduct of both men and women in connection with public worship (chapter 2), has stipulated the qualifications of elders and deacons (chapter 3), and has pointed out the path which Timothy (and the presbyters under his supervision) must tread in order to cope with apostasy and to grow in efficiency as minister(s) of Christ (chapter 4).”[1]
“To a large extent—but with important personal digressions—all this was quite general. Now the apostle begins to direct his attention more especially to individuals and groups within the Christian community. It must be borne in mind, however, that this is a genuine letter, and that the divisions are never rigid. Thoughts continually overlap. Ideas once stated return in slightly altered form. The Outline covers the contents and marks the divisions in general.”[2]
Paul referred to four particular people groups in today’s featured text. They were designated as older men, younger men, older women and younger women in the context of Timothy’s age. How was this young pastor to shepherd these four groups of people? How was he to build a trusting relationship with them as their pastor? Paul provided a simple and significant answer. Often, the simple things in life, and simple statements, are the most important and memorable. Paul wrote to Timothy to not rebuke people but rather to encourage.
The word rebuke (ἐπιπλήξῃς; epiplexes) means to verbally strike someone. It is a strong spoken disapproval as a form of punishment. It also means to chide and chastise someone with words. While Paul did not command Timothy agaisnt rebuking people, he strongly encouraged him not to do so.
To encourage (παρακάλει; parakalei) is a present active imperative verb. Paul commanded his protégé to continuously, actively and obediently exhort, urge and plead with those in his congregation to pursue holiness and godliness (I Tim. 4:6-16).
Timothy was to treat the older men in the congregation as he would a father. He was to treat younger men as brothers, older women as his own mother and younger women like sisters. Timothy was to behave in all kinds of purity with all these people groups.
Purity (ἁγνείᾳ; hagneia) is to be without moral defect. “In a number of languages, the meaning of ἁγνεία and ἁγνότης is expressed idiomatically, for example, ‘to have a clean heart,’ ‘to not have other thoughts,’ or ‘to not cover up one’s real desires.’[3]
“A general principle is here set out which applies to people of different ages. Timothy is to treat other people as he would members of his own family. This principle excludes the idea of superiority and promotes a more natural approach. The verb rebuke used here is a strong one implying censure, and this is to be avoided with older men. Paul adds a caution about the younger women, where the maintenance of purity in relationships is essential.”[4]
“Now it should be emphasized that also here Paul maintains beautiful balance. On the one hand, he does not want Timothy to spare the older people, permitting them to “get away” with their sins. On the other hand, he desires that they be treated with due respect, For, after all, the Christian community is a family, the most glorious family of all (Matt. 12:49, 50); and it does indeed consist of fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters … in the Lord! Hence, old(er) men must be treated as fathers, that is, with respect; young(er) men as brothers, that is, in the spirit of equality, an equality of persons, which does not exclude the exercise of authority on the part of him who administers the admonition,” explains Dr. Hendriksen.[5]
“To correct one’s own mother surely requires deep humility, genuine searching of heart, wrestling at the throne of grace, wisdom! It is in that spirit that Timothy must proceed when he feels duty-bound to admonish old(er) women who have erred. Young(er) women, too, are the objects of pastoral care. They should be admonished as sisters; hence, in all purity. When one seeks to help his sister to overcome a certain blemish of character, impurity (at least in the more popular sense of the word) is completely absent. Let Timothy treat the young ladies and the young married ladies who are under his spiritual care in that same fashion, just as if they were his own sisters, for they really are … in the Lord.”[6]
Believers in Christ belong to the family of God. May each of us treat each other with respect and encouragement as befitting a loving family. .
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 165.
[2] Ibid., 165.
[3] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 745.
[4] Donald Guthrie, “1 Timothy,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1301.
[5] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 166.
[6] Ibid., 166.
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