1 Timothy 5:7
in 1 Timothy 5Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
These things also command, that they may be without reproach.
KJV
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 5
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Give these instructions to the believers
on 1 Timothy 5:7-8
Verse 8 makes the charge household law: whoever does not provide for his own household has denied the faith. The charge protects widows by binding their families first.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
And these things command, so that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. And these things command. Do you see that Paul …
"These things give in charge, that they may be blameless." He does not leave it to their choice. Command them, he says, not to be luxurious, assuming it to be confessedly an evil, as not holding it lawful or admissible for the luxurious to partake of the Holy Mysteries. "These things command," he says, "that they may be blameless." Thus you see it is reckoned among sins. For if it were a matter of choice, though it were left undone, we might still be blameless. Therefore in obedience to Paul, let us command the luxurious widow not to have place in the list of widows. For if a soldier, who frequents the bath, the theater, the busy scenes of life, is judged to desert his duty, much more the widows. Let us then not seek our rest here, that we may find it hereafter. Let us not live in pleasure here, that we may hereafter enjoy true pleasure, true delight, which brings no evil with it, but infinite good.
The Medieval Church2 voices
You see that he desires this to be a law. He does not leave it to one's discretion whether to indulge in pleasures or not, but forbids it as a sin. For such is the meaning of the word "command" (παράγγελλε); it stands in place …
Then when he says, and command this, he shows that they should be trained to abstain from evils. Therefore, he says that he even forbids this, commanding that women who are sustained by the Church should be blameless: holiness becomes your house, O Lord (Ps …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And these things give in charge,.... Concerning rebuking persons of a different age and sex, and concerning the maintenance of widows; and particularly that children provide for their parents when helpless; and that widows trust in God, and give themselves to prayer and supplication, and not live in sin: that they may be blameless; before men, and in the view of the world, and not be chargeable with any notorious crime; though none are without blame in themselves, and before God, but as considered in Christ Jesus.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
That they may be blameless - Charge the whole Church to attend to these things, that they may be blameless. The words are not spoken of the widows only, but of the Church or its officers; it cannot be restricted to the widows, for the adjective ανεπιληπτοι is both of the masculine and feminine gender.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And these things give in charge - Announce, or declare these things, to wit, particularly respecting the duty of children to their widowed mothers, and the proper duty of those who are widows.
The words behind it
6 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | Also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ταῦτα | tauta | these things | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| παράγγελλε, | parangelle | do command, | G3853 → | 31 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἀνεπίλημπτοι | anepilemptoi | above reproach | G423 → | 3 times |
| ὦσιν.¶ | osin | they may be. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
καὶAlso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ταῦταthese things
tautaG3778 →1381 times
παράγγελλε,do command,
parangelleG3853 →31 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ἀνεπίλημπτοιabove reproach
anepilemptoiG423 →3 times
ὦσιν.¶they may be.
osinG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Titus 2:15Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Through
2 Timothy 4:1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
it leads to
- Acts 10:42
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
- 2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who…
- 1 Timothy 5:21
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
- Acts 10:42
Through
Titus 1:13This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:20
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 5:20
Through
1 Timothy 6:17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us…
it leads to
- Proverbs 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
- Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
- Proverbs 11:28
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.