1 Timotius 5:1-2

Instructions about Specific Groups

5:1 Do not address an older man harshly ¹  but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, ²  5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters – with complete purity.

1 Timotius 4:6

4:6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, ³  you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁴ 

1 Timotius 6:2

6:2 But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect ⁵  because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. ⁶ 

Summary of Timothy’s Duties

Teach them and exhort them about these things. ⁷ 

1 Timotius 5:16

5:16 If a believing woman ⁸  has widows in her family, ⁹  let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need. ¹⁰ 

1 Timotius 5:20

5:20 Those guilty of sin ¹¹  must be rebuked ¹²  before all, ¹³  as a warning to the rest. ¹⁴ 

1 Timotius 5:8

5:8 But if someone does not provide for his own, ¹⁵  especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timotius 6:21

6:21 By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. ¹⁶  Grace be with you all. ¹⁷ 

1 Timotius 5:10

5:10 and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, ¹⁸  practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works. ¹⁹ 

[5:1]  ¹ tn Or “Do not speak harshly to an older man.”

[5:1]  ² tn No verb “speak” is stated in this clause, but it continues the sense of the preceding.

[4:6]  ³ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[4:6]  ⁴ sn By pointing out…you have followed. This verse gives a theme statement for what follows in the chapter about Timothy’s ministry. The situation in Ephesus requires him to be a good servant of Christ, and he will do that by sound teaching and by living an exemplary life himself.

[6:2]  ⁵ tn Or “think the less of them”; Grk “despise them,” “look down on them.”

[6:2]  ⁶ tn Or “those who devote themselves to service are faithful and dearly loved” (referring to slaves who serve them).

[6:2]  ⁷ tn Grk “these things teach and exhort.”

[5:16]  ⁸ tc Most witnesses (D Ψ Ï sy) have πιστὸς ἤ (pisto" h) before πιστή (pisth), with the resultant meaning “if a believing man or woman.” But such looks to be a motivated reading, perhaps to bring some parity to the responsibilities of men and women listed here, and as a way of harmonizing with v. 4. Further, most of the earliest and best witnesses (א A C F G P 048 33 81 1175 1739 1881 co) lack the πιστὸς ἤ, strengthening the preference for the shorter reading.

[5:16]  ⁹ tn Grk “has widows.”

[5:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “the real widows,” “those who are really widows.”

[5:20]  ¹¹ sn As a continuation of v. 19, this refers to elders who sin, not to sinning believers more generally.

[5:20]  ¹² tn Or “censured.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.

[5:20]  ¹³ tn “Before all” probably refers to the whole congregation, not just all the elders; “the rest” is more likely to denote the remaining elders.

[5:20]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “that the rest may have fear.”

[5:8]  ¹⁵ tn That is, “his own relatives.”

[6:21]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “have deviated concerning the faith.”

[6:21]  ¹⁷ tc Most witnesses (א² D¹ Ψ Ï sy) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”). Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, the earliest and best witnesses (א* A D* F G 33 81 1739* 1881 it sa) lack the particle, indicating that the letter concluded with “Grace be with you all.”

[6:21]  tn Grk “with you” (but the Greek pronoun indicates the meaning is plural here).

[5:10]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “if she raised children.” The phrase “if she raised children” begins a series of conditional clauses running to the end of the verse. These provide specific examples of her good works (v. 10a).

[5:10]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “followed after every good work.”