Rebuke not an elder sharply, but exhort [him] as a father, younger [men] as brethren,
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
elder women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
Paul has just told Timothy how to speak to older and younger men. Now he turns to the women, and ends with a safeguard — "in all purity" — which raises the question of why such a warning belongs in the ordinary work of correcting fellow believers.
The four relationships Paul lists are not job titles. They are the relationships of a household, and one writer draws out what that says about the kind of company God is building.
Leslie M. GrantIn the same way, older women were to be treated as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with the necessary addition here, "in all purity." In its order, the assembly follows the pattern of proper family life. It is not a business or an army. Either of those can be highly efficient in a cold, impersonal way. But neither could ever show the interest in the individual that marks the love of our God and Father.
Someone might think such details too small for Scripture.
The Christian's FriendAll this we learn was not beneath the Spirit's notice, for it concerned order and comeliness of behaviour in the house of God.
Timothy was young, and older believers sometimes still needed correction. Age changes the manner of it, not the message.
Hamilton SmithAge is to be respected, even when rebuke is called for. An older brother is not to be rebuked sharply, but urged with all the respect a son would show a father. Younger men are not to be treated as unimportant, but rebuked with love as brothers. Older women are to be shown the respect due to a mother. Younger women are to be dealt with in "all purity", so avoiding the careless familiarity that nature might adopt.
Of the four groups, only one carries an added condition.
William KellyYounger women he was to view as sisters, in all purity. That is the special guard in this last case.
That the warning is there at all says something about who needs it.
The Bible TreasuryWho are these last words, "in all purity," aimed at? The Spirit of God does not give a command where it is not needed, nor does He withhold one where it is needed. It is often the way of the flesh to do the very opposite. Even Timothy needed this caution!
This verse governs the manner of correction, not only its content. A true word can still fail because of the one who delivers it.
Hamilton SmithTimes may come when evils show themselves among Christians and rightly call for rebuke. Still, when we rebuke, we are to recognise what is due to age and sex, and so take care to speak in a right spirit. The rebuke may be right and yet have no effect, or even do harm, because of the wrong spirit behind it. A right rebuke in a wrong spirit simply meets the flesh with the flesh.
Handled this way, the same correction binds believers together instead of driving them apart.
William KellyAgain, "younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity." Nothing is more beautiful, more tender, more holy. Nothing is more fitted to build up the saints and bind them together to the glory of God, while His wisdom enters into every situation with an easy flexibility that marks His grace.
The verse is not only for leaders. It also shapes ordinary friendship between Christian men and women.
Henry Allan IronsideThere is no reason why Christian young men and women should not meet and enjoy one another's company in a pure and holy way. But often it is not so. If you feel there is a snare in such mixing, then be honest with your own souls and avoid what might dishonour Christ and hinder spiritual growth. Timothy was urged to treat older brothers with the reverence due to fathers, and to treat "younger women as sisters, in all purity." The last three words are important, and if overlooked, will lead to many a snare.
- Family, not firm. God orders His house like a family, not a business or an army. Only a family cares about the individual.
- Mothers. Older women get the respect a son gives his own mother. Age still counts, even when correction is needed.
- Sisters. Younger women are treated as sisters. That rules out the careless familiarity that comes naturally.
- Purity. The added guard belongs to that last relationship. Even Timothy needed it, so no one is beyond it.
- Spirit. A right rebuke in a wrong spirit only meets the flesh with the flesh. Given the right way, the same word binds the saints together.