1 Timothy 5:2
in 1 Timothy 5older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
KJV
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThe elder women as mothers,.... When they offend in any point, they are to be reasoned, and argued, and pleaded with, as children should with their mothers; see Hos 2:2 and are to be considered as mothers in Israel, and to be treated with great tenderness and respect. The younger as sisters; using the freedom as a brother may with a sister; and considering them as sisters in Christ, and in a way becoming the relation, tell them their faults freely and privately, but with all purity: in such manner as to preserve chastity in looks, in words, and actions.
This site's exposition
Rebuke not an elder
on 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Timothy is warned off a young pastor's sharp rebuke and given a family grammar instead: an older man is entreated as a father, not scolded, and every other relation in the church follows the same household pattern, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity guarding that last pairing especially. The verb behind rebuke, epiplesso, names a blow with words, and Paul forbids it toward age while still expecting correction to happen inside the family bond. Ephesus is drawn as one household under Timothy's care, its discipline exercised the way a son honors an elder, not the way a magistrate strikes a stranger.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Do not rebuke an elder man, but encourage him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Paul does not teach any new doctrine, but all things are old. What then does he say? If …
"The elder women as mothers, the younger men as brethren; the younger women as sisters, with all purity." Rebuke is in its own nature offensive, particularly when it is addressed to an old man, and when it proceeds from a young man too, there is a threefold show of forwardness. By the manner and the mildness of it, therefore, he would soften it. For it is possible to reprove without offense, if one will only make a point of this: it requires great discretion, but it may be done. "The younger men as brethren." Why does he recommend this too here? With a view to the high spirit natural to young men, whence it is proper to soften reproof to them also with moderation. "The younger women as sisters"; he adds, "with all purity." Tell me not, he means, of merely avoiding sinful intercourse with them. There should not be even a suspicion. For since intimacy with young women is always suspicious, and yet a Bishop cannot always avoid it, he shows by adding these words, that "all purity" is required in such intimacy. But does Paul give this advice to Timothy? Yes, he says, for I am speaking to the world through him. But if Timothy was thus advised, let others consider what sort of conduct is required of them, that they should give no ground for suspicion, no shadow of pretext, to those who wish to calumniate.
A commentator
Theonas of AlexandriaThe Epistle of Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria, to Lucianus, the Chief Chamberlain · Written before 300.
proposed
If the emperor visits her imperial majesty, or she him, then should ye also be most circumspect in eye and demeanour, and in all your words. Let her mark your mastery of yourselves and your modesty; and let her followers and attendants mark your demeanour; …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since reproof is hard to bear, especially when a young man reproves an old one—then it becomes triply reckless—therefore, he says, you should soften it with gentleness. Since this age is characterized by great boldness and does not tolerate reproofs, therefore, he says, one must …
On the part of women, there is a difference of ages, because old women, as mothers, especially those who are not young: honor widows (1 Tim 5:3); young women, as sisters, with the love of charity. And this in all chastity; because spiritual love toward …
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The elder women as mothers - Treating them with the respect due to their age. The younger as sisters - Feel for every member of the Church, old and young, male and female; consider them as fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters; treat them all with gentleness; and labor to keep them in, not to expel them from, the Church. With all purity - Εν πασῃ ἁγνειᾳ· With all chastity. See the note on 1Ti 4:
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The elder women as mothers - Showing still the same respect for age, and for the proprieties of life. No son who had proper feelings would rebuke his own mother with severity. Let the minister of religion evince the same feelings if he is called to address a “mother in Israel” who has erred. The younger as sisters - With the feelings which you have toward a sister. The tender love which one has for a beloved sister would always keep him from using harsh and severe language. The same mildness, gentleness, and affection should be used toward a sister in the church. With all purity - Nothing could be more characteristic of Paul’s manner than this injunction; nothing could show a deeper acquaintance with human nature. He knew the danger which would beset a youthful minister of the gospel when it was his duty to admonish and entreat a youthful female; he knew, too, the scandal to which he might be exposed if, in the performance of the necessary duties of his office, there should be the slightest departure from purity and propriety. He was therefore to guard his heart with more than common vigilance in such circumstances, and was to indulge in no word, or look, or action, which could by any possibility be construed as manifesting an improper state of feeling. On nothing else do the fair character and usefulness of a youthful minister more depend, than on the observance of this precept. Nowhere else does he more need the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the exercise of prudence, and the manifestation of incorruptible integrity, than in the performance of this duty. A youthful minister who fails here, can never recover the perfect purity of an unsullied reputation, and never in subsequent life be wholly free from suspicion; compare notes, Mat 5:28.
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πρεσβυτέρας | presbuteras | elder [women] | G4245 → | 65 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| μητέρας, | meteras | mothers, | G3384 → | |
| νεωτέρας | neoteras | [and] younger [women] | G3501 → | 24 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀδελφὰς | adelphas | sisters | G79 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πάσῃ | pase | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἁγνείᾳ. | hagneia | purity. | G47 → |
πρεσβυτέραςelder [women]
presbuterasG4245 →65 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
μητέρας,mothers,
meterasG3384 →
νεωτέρας[and] younger [women]
neoterasG3501 →24 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀδελφὰςsisters
adelphasG79 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
πάσῃall
paseG3956 →1235 times
ἁγνείᾳ.purity.
hagneiaG47 →
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
1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- Titus 2:7
Through
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
it leads to
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Romans 12:9–21
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- James 3:17
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theonas of Alexandria, The Epistle of Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria, to Lucianus, the Chief Chamberlain; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.