1 Timothy 5:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Is he speaking here of the rank of presbyter? I do not think so, but of every elderly man. Why not act otherwise if he needs correction?

"Do not rebuke," he says. Speak with him as you would treat a father who sins. By the very nature of the matter, hearing corrections is burdensome, especially when it happens to an elderly man.

If the corrections are made by a young man, this becomes triply unreasonable. Therefore the rebuke must be softened by meekness and friendliness.

One can rebuke without cruelty, if one wishes to practice this. It requires great prudence, yet it is possible.

The Apostle is not speaking of one who holds the rank of presbyter in the Church, but of any elderly man. But what if he needs correction? In that case, he says, treat him as a father.

The Apostle here means not a priest, but one advanced in years. The words that follow make this clear.

“Do not do harm to an elder, but exhort him as a father.”

I think that by presbyter (πρεσβύτερον) he here means not one honored with priestly dignity, but simply someone older in years. This is clear also from the following words: “older women as mothers.” Therefore, he says, do not rebuke an elder, even if he should prove negligent. For it is hard for an elder to bear corrections from a younger man.

“Younger men as brothers” (see 1 Tim 5:2).

The preacher of the almighty Lord, the Apostle Paul, says, “Do not rebuke an elder.” But this rule of his must be kept when the fault of the elder does not, by its example, draw the hearts of the young to destruction. Where an elder gives the young an example leading to destruction, he must be struck with sufficient rebuke.

"Do not rebuke an elder." Saint John Chrysostom thinks that here the Apostle does not mean a presbyter, since "elder" in Greek is πρεσβυτέρω, but any man older in age.

This is confirmed by the indication of other ages: younger men, older women, and others. Timothy, as a young bishop, must not forget his youth despite his high position.

Rebukes or harsh treatment are not meant here in the sense of insults, for such things are forbidden toward all ages and all people. Rather, they mean reprimands of an elder for some sins, as may be possible from the overseer of the Church.

Instead of rebukes, the Apostle proposes exhortations. The same meek relations are impressed upon Timothy toward younger men, older women, and young women.

How should the presider of the Church conduct himself toward old and young people of both sexes? 1 Tim 5:1-2 gives the answer.

"Do not rebuke an elder," or, according to the Greek original, do not shout at an old man, do not shame him, and do not revile him humiliatingly, as Bishop Theophan says. This applies even if he deserves rebukes.

Instead, "exhort" him, that is, admonish him "as a father." Treat older women "as mothers," without fearing in the least that this will humiliate your rank.

Young women are to be exhorted "as sisters, with all purity," that is, with complete chastity in speech and in every relation.

The guiding instructions on how to teach according to age are given by the Apostle in a family spirit, where the head is the father. Therefore he commands one to treat an elder as a father, older women as mothers, and the rest as brothers and sisters.

Exhortation, persuasion, and entreaty are the best family methods of moral influence. Reproaches and stern remarks weigh heavily upon those honored by age and provoke boldness in the young.

"In the very nature of the matter, hearing corrections is burdensome, especially when this happens to an elderly man," says Saint John Chrysostom.

After exhortations of a general character, the Apostle gives Timothy directions about dealing with the various persons who belong to the Church.

Touching first on the relations in which Timothy should stand toward ordinary believers of different ages and sexes, the Apostle turns his attention to the question of widows.

Only those widows have a right to church assistance who have no close relatives, children or grandchildren, obligated to care for their nourishment.

Moreover, a widow living under the Church's care must conduct herself as befits a woman not bound by kinship ties to the world. She must devote herself to constant prayer and not indulge in a luxurious life at another's expense.

By "elder" Saint Paul here means not one honored with priestly dignity, but one advanced in years, as Saint Chrysostom and all the others say. To such a person, he says, do no harm, μη επιπληξης. Do not shout at him, revile him, or shame him.

"But what if he needs correction? In that case, treat him as you would your own father who has sinned, with respectful quietness" (Saint Chrysostom, Oecumenius).

Therefore he says, "exhort," παρακαλει, meaning: entreat, beseech, and persuade. "In the very nature of the matter, hearing corrections is burdensome, especially when this happens to an elderly man."

"If the corrections are also given by someone younger, this becomes triply unbearable. Therefore the weight of it must be softened by meekness and friendliness."