1 Timothy 5:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Young women," he says, "as sisters," and he adds, "with all purity." You must not only regard sin as sin, he says, but you must not even give occasion for suspicion.

Since conversations with young women scarcely avoid suspicion, and yet a bishop must do this also, he adds, "with all purity." By this he shows that one must speak with them with every purity.

What are you saying, tell me? Do you command this to Timothy? Yes, he answers, because through him I speak to the whole world.

If he commands this to Timothy, let all others consider what a bishop must be like. He must not give occasion for suspicion, nor even the shadow of a pretext to those who would wish to slander.

"Older women as mothers." Since rebuke is hard to bear, especially when a young man rebukes an old person, it becomes triply unreasonable. Therefore, he says, soften it with meekness.

"Young women as sisters." Since this age is marked by great boldness and does not endure rebukes, he says they must be softened by condescension.

"With all purity." Since conversations with young women give rise to suspicions, and yet a bishop must converse with them also, you must not only guard against sinful union. You must not give any occasion for suspicion.

The Apostle commands this to Timothy not for his sake, but for our sake, who are later bishops, so that we may guard against suspicions.

Since one to whom souls are entrusted must also converse with young women, the Apostle did not add without need, “with all purity.” Thus, while preserving bodily chastity, he must also preserve chastity of soul and admit no harm into himself through sight or hearing. Then he turns again to the teaching about the ecclesiastical ranks.

"Older women as mothers, younger women as sisters," that is, instruct and teach them. This applies when they are being taught something they did not yet know, or when they have erred in something insignificant.

But when they sin after having been taught, or commit serious offenses, then instruction requires greater firmness and stronger reproof, as was explained earlier.

"With all purity." This concerns young women. In teaching them, one must conduct oneself so that the teaching is free from every evil suspicion. One must not provide even the shadow of a pretext for those who might decide to slander.

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.

Older women are to be taught, exhorted, and inclined to good as mothers. "The reason for this is the same as in relation to elders" (Oecumenius), namely, "the softening of the bitterness of corrective speech by the warmth of filial love and respect" (blessed Theophylact).

"Older women, seeing that they are taught with meek speech, will accept it without bitterness, because respect toward them is preserved. It is bitter for the old to receive lessons from the young."

"Therefore, when this is unavoidable, the Apostle commands that the action be softened by meekness and respect, so that it may benefit both the teacher and the hearers" (Ambrosiaster).