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 TIMOTHY -
marry, have children, and manage a home, so as to give the adversary no pretext for maligning us.e 15For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16If any woman believer* has widowed relatives, she must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to help those who are truly widows.
Rules for Presbyters.* 17Presbyters who preside well deserve double honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching.f 18For the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is threshing,” and, “A worker deserves his pay.”g 19Do not accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.h 20Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid.i 21I charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22Do not lay hands too readily on anyone, and do not share in another’s sins. Keep yourself pure.j
23Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
24Some people’s sins are public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed by their sins. 25Similarly, good works are also public; and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
6Rules for Slaves.
1* Those who are under the yoke of slavery must regard their masters as worthy of full respect, so that the name of God and our teaching* may not su er abuse.a 2Those whose masters are believers
must not take advantage of them because they are brothers but must give better service because those who will pro t from their work are believers and are beloved.b
The Clockmakers,
by Joan Galle (1600- 1676). “A worker deserves his pay.”
5:1
How does our culture treat the elderly? “We live in a time when the elderly don’t count. It’s unpleasant to say it, but they are set aside because they are considered a nuisance. And yet, the elderly pass on history, doctrine, faith and they leave them to us as an inheritance. They are like a ne vintage wine” (Pope Francis, Homily, Tuesday, 19 November 2013). How do we treat the elderly? As the words of Pope Francis suggests, our future depends on our answer to that question.
5:23
Problems will arise in the Christian community. Paul advises Timothy to be fair and impartial in handling these situations. This important counsel is followed by some much more down-to-earth advice to Timothy: “take a little wine” to help with digestion!
6:1
Like the words about slaves in Ephesians and Colossians, we should keep in mind that at the time this letter was written, slavery was an accepted part of everyday life and society. The Letter to Timothy does not question the institution of slavery itself, but does seek to transform it with Christian values of mutual love and respect.
CHAPTER 5
e. [5:14] 1 Cor 7:9.
f. [5:17] 1 Cor 16:18; Phil 2:29.
g. [5:18] Dt 25:4; 1 Cor 9:8 / Mt 10:10; Lk 10:7.
h. [5:19] Dt 17:6; 19:15; Mt 18:16; 2 Cor 13:1.
i. [5:20] Gal 2:14; Eph 5:11; 2 Tm 4:2; Ti 1:9, 13.
j. [5:22] 4:14; 2 Tm 1:6.
CHAPTER 6
a. [6:1] Eph 6:5; Ti 2:9–10.
b. [6:2] Phlm 16.
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* [5:16] Woman believer: some early Latin manuscripts and Fathers have a masculine here, while most later manuscripts and patristic quotations con ate the two readings, perhaps to avoid unfair restriction to women.
* [5:17–25] The function of presbyters is not exactly the same as that of the episkopos, “bishop” (1 Tm 3:1); in fact, the relation of the two at the time of this letter is obscure (but cf. note on Ti 1:5–9). The Pastorals seem to re ect a transitional stage that developed in many regions of the church into the monarchical episcopate of the second and third centuries. The presbyters possess the responsibility of preaching and teaching, for which functions they are supported by the community (1 Tm 5:17–18). The realization that their position subjects them to adverse criticism is implied in the direction to Timothy (1 Tm 5:19–20) to make sure of the truth of any accusation against them before public reproof is given. He must be as objective as possible in weighing charges against presbyters (1 Tm 5:21), learning from his experience to take care in selecting them (1 Tm 5:22). Some scholars take 1 Tm 5:22 as a reference not to ordination of presbyters but to reconciliation of public sinners. The letter now sounds an informal note of personal concern in its advice to Timothy not to be so ascetic that he even avoids wine (1 Tm 5:23). Judgment concerning the tness of candidates to serve as presbyters is easy with persons of open conduct, more di cult and prolonged with those of greater reserve (1 Tm 5:24–25).
* [6:1–2] Compare the tables for household duties, such as that of Col 3:18–4:1. Domestic relationships derive new meaning from the Christian faith.
* [6:1] Our teaching: this refers to the teaching of the Christian community.
* [6:2b–10] Timothy is exhorted to maintain steadfastly the position outlined in this letter, not allowing himself to be pressured into any other course. He must realize that false teachers can be discerned by their pride, envy, quarrelsomeness, and greed for material gain. 1 Tm 6:6 is rather obscure and is interpreted, and therefore translated, variously. The suggestion seems to be that the important gain that religion brings is spiritual, but that there is material gain, too, up
to the point of what is needed for physical sustenance (cf. 1 Tm 6:17–19).