Verse by verse study of Paul's first letter to Timothy. In this lesson we examine chapter 5 verses 1-25 beginning to look at proper order in the church.

The Church is a Family

1Tm 5:1-2

There is a popular concept of the church as an organisation with a range of products which a person can select from and use. For example if you want to worship God, you go along to the church at the scheduled time, and the church provides a "service" for you. You think of yourself as a customer or client, and the church as a provider of religious and social services.

The proper concept of the church, however, is that of a spiritual family. You regard yourself as a family member, and as such you are both priveleged and responsible. You have a personal and involved relationship with the other members of your church family.

An important part of the godly order in the church of Christ is that each member regards the church as his heavenly family. The members of the church are regarded as his brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers, in a very real way (1Tm 5:1-2).

When the church is ordered like a family, provided the concept is not abused as we shall mention in a moment, the church grows up in Christ as God intended. For example, Timothy's relationship to the older men will be characterised by respect, to the younger men by friendship, to the older women by love, and to the younger women by purity. Amid such an order of relationships his ministry will thrive and bear much fruit.

Abuses of the Family Concept

1Tm 5:3-16

Whilst the church is properly regarded as a heavenly family, it is vital that we do not blur the distinction between the church family and those earthly family units to which members personally belong. It is an abuse of the family concept of the church to regard the local church as a substitute for the family households that in God's order are basic units of human society.

Timothy is to teach that piety begins at home where family members help, support, and provide for each other. Those who think the church should take over this role (except in very special cases) are worse than infidels who, in spite of their unbelief, often preach and practice individual responsibility and the strengthening of the family unit in society (1Tm 5:3-16)

The Hard Working Family

1Tm 5:4,8   1Tm 5:14,16

There are four verses in chapter five in which Paul lays it down that families must support their own. The same God who instituted the church also instituted the family or household. Timothy is to teach that the family unit must be strengthened and must be responsible for looking after its own. Those who do not observe this rule have "denied the faith".

We observe many families who expect the state or church to be burdened with responsibilities that those families should be accepting themselves. There is a responsibility for the state to provide welfare, and there is a responsibility for the church to be benevolent, however these responsibilities are limited to special circumstances.

The church should teach people to be responsible for themselves and for their own family members, and families should be encouraged to become strong units able to fulfill this responsibility. One of the basics, is that there should be an end to bludging, and each family member should work as hard as he or she is able, whether in paid employment or in working around the home. (1Tm 5:4,8,14,16).

Whom the Church Honours with Support

1Tm 5:3,9-10

The church was never intended to take over from the family. The two institutions have their own special purposes and functions. However, some people do not have a family and are alone. In this case the church family is the only family they have, and so the church family must assume responsibility for their care when they are in need and have no other help. The church is not a charity for one and all. However there are certain needy, like the "widows indeed" whom the church should support (1Tm 5:3,9-10).

1Tm 5:17-18

Another group whom the church should support are its workers. Those who work hard in the gospel -- the congregation's elders for example -- are entitled to support for "the labourer is worthy of his wages" (1Tm 5:17-18). It is often the case that the church expects much of its workers, but neglects to pay them properly. Timothy was to teach the church to act responsibly in this matter.

The Dedicated and Impartial Minister

1Tm 5:19-21

Paul now turns his attention back to Timothy himself, and the order that should characterise Timothy's own life and ministry in the church.

The point we are about to notice, may be added to the principles of Timothy's ministry which we studied in our previous lesson. A principled ministry contributes to order in the church --indeed it is an important part of that order.

Timothy, as a gospel preacher, has to be "without bias" in the way he deals with complaints, accusations, sinful behaviour, and so forth. He must handle these matters without fear or favour. He must be dedicated to the truth regardless of pressure from those with clout because they have social status, financial power, a following in the church, or some other leverage. He is to treat every person on their spiritual merit in the eyes of God and his angels. Timothy must not be swayed by worldly considerations (1Tm 5:19-21).

Purity With Pragmatism

1Tm 5:22-25

Paul gives Timothy some direction on staying blameless, especially by avoiding involvement in other people's sins. Timothy needs to use common sense, however. There is a danger in not being careful enough, and there is a danger in being careful to a fault.

• In verse 22, Paul tells Timothy not to lay hands hastily on any one. Sometimes a preacher has to "set in order the things that are lacking" and appoint elders or deacons (Titus 1:5). The preacher, however, does not choose them himself. Rather, he teaches God's instructions, the congregation chooses accordingly, and he appoints the chosen. Even the apostles followed this pattern (Acts 6:1-6). The preacher needs to teach and encourage the church to maintain order through an effective presbytery, however he also needs to be sensible about this, for if he appoints men ill chosen, then he will share some of the blame even though the choice was not his. The way to avoid that problem is to appoint only those who, over a reasonable time, have established a good track record. Paul has already instructed Timothy on this (1Tm 3:1-13).
   
  
• In verse 23, Paul touches on another matter in which Timothy was trying to keep himself free from other people's sins. Timothy was apparently practising abstinence from wine, which abstinence Paul elsewhere recommends because wine is a cause of stumbling to many (Rom 14:21). It also appears that Timothy was frequently ill, and it had something to do with his stomach and the water he was drinking. So there was a need for some common sense and discretion to be applied. Paul tells Timothy to "use a little wine" for his stomach's sake. Of course it goes without saying that Timothy would be expected to do this discreetly, so that he still did not cause anyone to stumble.
   
  In adding that last sentence, I am not suggesting that Timothy should become a secret drinker, but merely pointing out that Paul is by no means telling Timothy to become a social drinker. On the other hand, some assert that the word "wine" here refers to fresh grape juice. I would like to be convinced of this, however in the context Paul is talking about involvement in others' sins. Fresh grape juice has no discernible connection with people's sin, but alchoholic wine certainly does. Paul's pragmatism with regard to Timothy using a little wine for a sensible purpose in no way weakens the general case for abstinence or the principles on which it is based, which Paul himself advocated.
   
  
• In verses 24-25, Paul addresses one of the problems one encounters when one tries to avoid involvement in other people's sin. Whilst some people are obviously bad or good, there are others who are not what they seem, and whom it is easy to misjudge on shallow sight. It pays to take a close look at people so that you get involved with the right ones. The right ones are not necessarily those who have a high profile and are well regarded in the church. Should they later be found out to be sinners, and become the center of a scandal, you will be ashamed and chagrined to have been associated with them. Sometimes the right ones are not recognised, because their personality or social status does not easily endear them to others or command respect. But some day their worth will be discovered, and you will be happy that you had associated with them. If we are to avoid sharing in other's sins, then we must be sensible like God who "sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1Sm 16:7).

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