Rebuke {1} not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

(1) Of giving personal reprehensions appropriately, according to the degrees of ages and gender.

People's New Testament

5:1,2 The Widows of the Church

SUMMARY OF I TIMOTHY 5:

Rules for Reproving. Honoring Widows. How They Should Be Supported. Who Are to Be Taken into the Number of Widows. The Younger Widows. The Presbyters. A Charge Concerning Timothy's Death.

Rebuke not an elder. An aged man. Treat him with deference due to age. It is evident from the four classes named together, the aged women, and the young women, that the reference in the word elder is not to office, but to age.

Wesley's Notes

5:1 Rebuke not - Considering your own youth, with such a severity as would otherwise be proper.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 5

1Ti 5:1-25. General Directions as to How Timothy Should Deal with Different Classes in the Church.

1. an elder-in age; probably not an elder in the ministry; these latter are not mentioned till 1Ti 5:17, "the elders that rule." Compare Ac 2:17, "your old men," literally, "elders." Contrasted with "the younger men." As Timothy was admonished so to conduct himself as to give no man reason to despise his youth (1Ti 4:12); so here he is told to bear in mind his youth, and to behave with the modesty which becomes a young man in relation to his elders.

Rebuke not-literally, "Strike not hard upon"; Rebuke not sharply: a different word from "rebuke" in 2Ti 4:2.

entreat-exhort.

as brethren-and therefore equals; not lording it over them (1Pe 5:1-3).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:1,2 Respect must be paid to the dignity of years and place. The younger, if faulty, must be rebuked, not as desirous to find fault with them, but as willing to make the best of them. There is need of much meekness and care in reproving those who deserve reproof.

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Chapter 5

Here the apostle, I. Directs Timothy how to reprove (v. 1, 2). II. Adverts to widows, both elder and younger (v. 3-16). III. To elders (v. 17-19). IV. Treats of public reproof (v. 20). V. Gives a solemn charge concerning ordination (v. 21, 22). VI. Refers to his health (v. 23), and states men's sins to be very different in their effects (v. 24, 25).

Verses 1-2

Here the apostle gives rules to Timothy, and in him to other ministers, in reproving. Ministers are reprovers by office; it is a part, though the least pleasing part, of their office; they are to preach the word, to reprove and rebuke, 2 Tim. 4:2. A great difference is to be made in our reproofs, according to the age, quality, and other circumstances, of the persons rebuked; thus, and elder in age or office must be entreated as a father; on some have compassion, making a difference, Jude 22. Now the rule is, 1. To be very tender in rebuking elders-elders in age, elders by office. Respect must be had to the dignity of their years and place, and therefore they must not be rebuked sharply nor magisterially; but Timothy himself, though an evangelist, must entreat them as fathers, for this would be the likeliest way to work upon them, and to win upon them. 2. The younger must be rebuked as brethren, with love and tenderness; not as desirous, to spy faults or pick quarrels, but as being willing to make the best of them. There is need of a great deal of meekness in reproving those who deserve reproof. 3. The elder women must be reproved, when there is occasion, as mothers. Hos. 2:2, Plead with your mother, plead. 4. The younger women must be reproved, but reproved as sisters, with all purity. If Timothy, so mortified a man to this world and to the flesh and lusts of it, had need of such a caution as this, much more have we.