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The Gospel Observer

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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April 7, 2013
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Contents:      

1) 1 Timothy 5:1-8 (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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1 Timothy 5:1-8
by Tom Edwards

In 1 Timothy 5:1,2, Paul instructs, "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity."

In this passage, Paul shows the attitude that we are to have toward various age groups. The KJV renders the beginning of this as, "Rebuke not an elder...."  And though some folks might take that to mean a "pastor" or an "overseer," the NASB makes it clearer by using the phrase "older man."  It has been pointed out that the Greek word for an "elder," in the sense of  "pastor" or "overseer," indicates an older man.  So this term is sometimes used in the Scriptures to refer to that -- rather than to the office of an elder.  For example, "presbuteros," the same term for the office of an "elder," is also used in Acts 2:17; but translated there as "old men."  The passage states, "'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS."  It is also obvious from the passage itself, in 1 Timothy 5:1, that the "elder" of the KJV would be referring to simply an older man; for he is seen along with the younger men, the older women, and the younger women.

We can also point out, however, that when the older man happens to also be an overseer or pastor, then specific instruction is given in 1 Timothy 5:19,20: "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."  And to see that this is referring to an overseer, and not merely an older man, consider the two prior verses: "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,' and 'The laborer is worthy of his wages'" (vv. 17,18). 

Paul shows that an older man is not to be "sharply rebuke[d]."  That phrase is from just one Greek word, which Thayer shows the primary meaning to be "1) to strike upon, beat upon."  And knowing that probably helps us to better understand the severity of its second meaning, and how it is used in this passage: "2) to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid, rebuke."  To "chastise" is to "criticize severely," and to "chide" is to "scold."  The instruction in the KJV to "Rebuke not an elder," does not mean that the faults of an older man can never be pointed out to him, but it must be done so with the proper respect -- such as the respect shown to one's father -- rather than harshly.  And though rebuke can sometimes mean to "reprove" or "correct, esp. gently," it often denotes severity in the sense of expressing "sharp, stern disapproval of," which, according to 1 Timothy 5:1 is not the way the older man should be dealt with.  Rather, he is to be appealed to as a father. 

Paul then begins instruction concerning the widow in 1 Timothy 5:3.  He states, "Honor widows who are widows indeed."

Though all people should be given the proper respect, honor is also used with an additional meaning in the Scriptures.  For instance, in Matthew 15:3-6, honor denotes more than merely an attitude of respect toward one's parents.  It also involves providing for them when they have needs.  Honor is also seen, in 1 Timothy 5:17,18, as remuneration or pay for the elder who works hard at preaching and teaching.  In addition, consider Acts 28:10: "They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed."  Supplying them with all they needed was one of the ways in which these islanders had shown their honor and respect.  The RSV renders this verse as, "They presented many gifts to us; and when we sailed, they put on board whatever we needed."  So the honor shown to these widows would involve benevolent assistance in meeting their needs. This can also be inferred from the next verse:

Paul then says in 1 Timothy 5:4, "but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God."

According to a 2011 U.S. Department of Agriculture survey, parents spend about $10,010 to $15,460 a year for one child, two-years old and under; while for a 17-year old, it was between $11,840 and $17,900.   Others have averaged the entire period under parents' care to be about $250,000 (not including college costs).  It has also been estimated as much as $500,000 from a high-income family, $300,000 from a middle-income, and $212,370 from a low income family (Mary Caraccioli of "We Owe What?" on the Live Well Network).  Findings also show that the cost per child decreases as the number of children increase.  But whatever the total cost (for all those clothes, food, medical bills, creature comforts, and other expenses), it is certainly not to be taken for granted.   So in helping out their parents when they have need is one way that children can show their appreciation for all that was done for them. 

The KJV begins this verse by saying, "But if any widow have children or nephews...."  The Greek word for "nephews" (ekgonon) is defined as "1) sprung from one, born, begotten.  2) a son, daughter, offspring, children, descendants  3) grand-children" (Thayer).  It has been said that the English word "nephew" had formerly meant "grandchildren, or descendants of any description," but would not "properly include nephews and nieces" (Albert Barnes).  For it involves just those in the direct line of descent. 

In 1 Timothy 5:5, Paul states, "Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day."

This might remind you of that widow spoken of in Luke 2:36-38: "And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."  She truly does appear to have been greatly devoted in her service to God. 

In 1 Timothy 5:6, Paul then speaks of that widow who would not be devoted to God. He states, "But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives."  Here, "wanton pleasure" comes from just one Greek word, which Thayer defines as "to live luxuriously, lead a voluptuous life, (give oneself to pleasure)."  It is also rendered as "self-indulgence" in various other Bible translations.  The English word "wanton" has for one of its meanings, "extravagant or excessive," which would very much apply to how it is used in this passage.  That the one who would give herself to this would be "dead even while she lives," doesn't mean that she is some type of zombie, but that she is spiritually dead while very much alive.  Sin will always lead to spiritual death.  For instance, Paul declares, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:1-6). 

As Christians, we want to always strive to be dead to sin, but alive unto God.  Sadly, however, many today often have this backwards.  They are dead unto God, but alive unto iniquity.  Notice, for example, Colossians 3:5-7: "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them."  Also Romans 6:11-19: "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification."

As we know, this epistle of Paul to Timothy wasn't merely a personal letter from one friend to another.  Rather, it is part of the gospel that provides instruction for all.  As Paul states in 1 Timothy 5:7, "Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach."  Living "above reproach" is what God wants all His people to do -- and to continue doing until Jesus comes again.  Compare, for instance, 1 Timothy 6:13,14: "I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Paul then shows how wrong it is for one to not provide for his own: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim. 5:8).  Though it emphasizes "those of his household," note, too, that it also makes mention of "his own," which could be his parents who had been living elsewhere.  This is also a continuation of the instruction in verse 4 of the need for the children or grandchildren to provide for their needy parents or grandparents.  A failure to do this will make a person worse than an unbeliever -- and what could be worse than that?

Also, we can point out that there are some things that even many unbelievers would view as being dishonorable or wrong, such as in not taking care of one's own.  So that, too, would be a sense in which the one who fails to do so would be worse than an unbeliever. 

Paul, however, always strove to set forth the proper example toward all -- and not just the believers.  Notice what he writes in 2 Corinthians 8:21: "for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."

Paul shows in 1 Timothy 5:8 that the one who does not provide for his own has "denied the faith."  Regardless of how much belief that person might have in the reality of God and the truthfulness of His word, it will not substitute for one's need to also submit to what the Lord requires.  This can be compared to Titus 1:16: "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed."

1 Timothy 5:8 is in stark contrast to what many scribes and Pharisees believed and practiced.  Jesus points out, concerning them, in Matt. 15:1-9 that they had disregarded God's command to honor their parents (which included helping them in their time of need) by giving -- what they might have given to them -- to God instead.   Jesus, however, rebuked them for doing so.  He also told them that they had invalidated or nullified the word of God through this tradition of theirs.  For example, suppose their parents were destitute, in need of food; but these scribes and Pharisees -- instead of helping them --  put that money into the temple treasury as a freewill offering that hadn't been required of them.  Though they might have viewed this as a righteous deed, they actually neglected a prior obligation toward their parents that they should have been concerned about. 

Paul has more to say about the widow that we will look into next week, Lord willing. 
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News & Notes

Let those of us who are Christians be remembering Virginia Fontenot in prayer.  About 6 AM today (April 13), her daughter took her to the hospital, due to severe pain.  From a cat scan, it was shown to be metastatic cancer.   In talking with Virginia this morning, she sounded in good spirits.  The pain had been alleviated.  She might possibly have surgery today; but, if not, she will most likely have it by Monday.  Let us pray that all will go well for her.

* Let us also be remembering the following in prayer: Linda Blevins who has been diagnosed with bilateral renal artery stenosis and will be undergoing some more tests; Tom Smitherman (Lee's father) who has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer; Bill Barfield (Linda Blevins' uncle) whose health is very poor; Pam MacDonald who has major back trouble; Cheryl Crews who has some chronic ailments; Shirley Young who suffers from fibromyalgia; Jean Calloway who has health problems; and Peggy Lefort who has not been feeling well lately.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest

CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA  70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (Gospel Observer website)
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