Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:3-16

Directions are here given concerning the taking of widows into the number of those who were employed by the church and had maintenance from the church: Honour widows that are widows indeed. Honour them, that is, maintain them, admit them into office. There was in those times an office in the church in which widows were employed, and that was to tend the sick and the aged, to look to them by the direction of the deacons. We read of the care taken of widows immediately upon the first forming of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 5:3-8

5:3-8 Honour widows who are genuinely in a widow's destitute position. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let such children learn to begin by discharging the duties of religion in their own homes; and let them learn to give a return for all that their parents have done for them; for this is the kind of conduct that meets with God's approval. Now she who is genuinely in the position of a widow, and who is left all alone, has set her hope on God, and night and day she devotes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provide not for his own ,.... Not only for his wife and children, but for his parents, when grown old, and cannot help themselves: and specially for those of his own house ; that is, who are of the same household of faith with him; see Galatians 6:10 , and so the Syriac version renders it, "and especially those who are the children of the house of faith"; for though the tie of nature obliges him to take care of them, yet that of grace makes the obligation still more strong... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provide not for his own - His own people or relatives. Those of his own house - That is, his own family, or a poor widow or relative that lives under his roof. Hath denied the faith - The Christian religion, which strongly inculcates love and benevolence to all mankind. Is worse than an infidel - For what are called the dictates of nature lead men to feel for and provide for their own families. Heathen writers are full of maxims of this kind; Tacitus says: Liberos... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 5:8

Verse 8 8And if any person do not provide for his own Erasmus has translated it, “If any woman do not provide for her own,” making it apply exclusively to females. But I prefer to view it as a general statement; for it is customary with Paul, even when he is treating of some particular subject, to deduce arguments from general principles, and, on the other hand, to draw from particular statements a universal doctrine. And certainly it will have greater weight, if it apply both to men and to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:1-16

I. BEHAVIOR OF TIMOTHY TOWARD THE ELDER AND YOUNGER CHURCH MEMBERS OF BOTH SEXES . "Rebuke not an eider, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the eider women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity." A minister has to deal with people differing in age and sex. If he is a young minister like Timothy, he has a difficult part to act. It may happen that one who is very much his cider is guilty of an offence. How is he to conduct himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:1-25

I. THE CONDUCT OF TIMOTHY TOWARD ELDERLY MEN . "Reprimand not an elderly person, but exhort him as a brother." The allusion is not to an official elder of the Church, but to any elderly member of it. 1. Such persons might possibly be guilty of serious shortcomings , warranting private admonition, if not the exercise of discipline. Their conduct would have a worse effect than that of more youthful offenders. 2. Timothy must not use sharpness or severity in dealing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 5:8

Provideth for provide , A.V.; his own household for those of his own house , A.V. and T.R.; unbeliever for infidel , A.V. Provideth ( προνοεῖ ). Elsewhere in the New Testament only in Romans 12:17 and 2 Corinthians 8:21 , where it has an accusative of the thing provided; here, as in classical Greek, with a genitive of the person; frequent in the LXX ., and still more so in classical Greek. The substantive προνοία occurs in Acts 24:2 and Romans 13:14 . ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provide not for his own - The apostle was speaking 1 Timothy 5:4 particularly of the duty of children toward a widowed mother. In enforcing that duty, he gives the subject, as he often does in similar cases, a general direction, and says that all ought to provide for those who were dependent on them, and that if they did not do this, they had a less impressive sense of the obligations of duty than even the pagan had. On the duty here referred to, compare Romans 12:17 note; 2... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Timothy 5:8

1 Timothy 5:8. If any provide not Food and raiment; for his own Poor relations; and especially those of his own house Των οικειων , his own domestics, those relations who live in his own family, and consequently are under his eye; he hath denied the faith Namely, by such a practice, which is utterly inconsistent with Christianity, which does not destroy, but perfects natural duties. Here we see, to disobey the precepts of the gospel, is to deny or renounce the faith of the gospel;... read more

Group of Brands