The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 115

"" t-0 srea~,, ta~·en (!hri.~t .for their Brirlegroom, an~ tli;en proved shamelessly unfaitlif,d lo_ lhe11· ~01ns. ~his tho11gh1 belongs to the ascetic ideas of a later period, as ii' the widows m question had taken the irrevocable engagement of nuna or of other ecclesi- astical persons. They mid1t, indred, have remarried not only without blame but by the direct counsel of the apostle himself. 2. Neither does it imply that they had been untrue to the memory o.f their first husbands. 3. The C/Ule supposed i8 that of eome young widows, who had taken their place among of.hers <if their world-renouncing cla,, in the list of the r'hurch's widows, and had drawn back into a lvaurious,pleasure-loving habit of life. There is no breach of the promise of widowhood either expressed or implied in the passage, and such a breach could not be interpreted by itself as equivalent to a renunciation 0f the Christian faith. The case supposed is that of a departure from the proprieties of widowed life, in connection with a Christian profession, which only too s11rely indicated a virtual repudiation of the faith. 4. The /udgment that attached to their conduct implied this virtual renunciation of faith. "Having condemnation because they se~ at nought th~ir first fait?.". (9 Not thrir fa_ith t~ their first husbands; (2) not their vow or promise to remain m widowhood, which might be called their former faith, but not their first faith; but (3) their simple faith in Christ, when they were baptized inu:, his Nam~ and d_evote~ themselve~ to his servic~. The_y set it at nought by not walkmg accordmg to it, their conversat10n not becommg their profession of it. Their condemnation, or, rather, their judgment, is not to be regarded as eternal because it mi~ht be removed by a timely repenta11ce. ' III. THE INJURIOUS AND SCA~'DALOUS EFFECTS OF BUCH A LIFB. "And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but talkers and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." These young widows, being under no necessity to labour for their living-for they were supported by the funds of the Church-used their leisure badly. 1. They were idle. (1) This habit of life is forbidden; for Christians are to be "not slothful in business." (2) It leads to mis- directed activity; for such widows "wander from house to house," because they have no resources within themselves. 2. They become loose talkers, babbling out whatever comes into their minds. "From leisure springs that curiosity which is the mother of garrulity" (Calvin). 3. They become busybodies, with a perverted activity in the concerns of others which implies a neglect of their own. This meddling spirit leads to misunder- standin~s and mischiefs of many kinds. 4. They become talkers of scandal, "speaking things which they ought not "-things which may be false, or, if true, are not to be repeated from house to house.-T. C. Vers. 14, 15.-Directions to such young widows. The case is one f'or special guidance, L A RETURN TO THE SPHERE OF DOMESTIC DUTIES IS ADVISED BY THE APOSTLE. "I wish, therefore, that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no occasion for the adversary to reproach." 1. There is nothing in this counsel to enClYUrage a resort to ascetic life, or an escape from the ordinary obligations of society. The over-valuation of ascetic life has been the great means of disparaging and dis- couraging the piety of common life. Religion was made, not for an idle, but for a busy world. 2. The return to ho1M-ties would probably break the forr.e of temptatio'fUJ to loose living. Idleness would thus be counteracted, as well as the wantonness against Christ previously censured. The woman would thus be" saved by child-bearing, if she con- tinu~d in faith and holiness with sobriety" (eh. ii. 15). 3. Mark the variety of her r,ew rel,ations. First to her husband, then to her children, then to her servants. She is to discharge each duty faithfully, so as to avoid the reproach of the adversary. 11. TH.E REASON WHY SUCH COUNSEL 18 GIVEN. " Give no occai;ion for reproach to the adversary; for already some have been turned away after Satan." 1. The adversary i, not necessarily the devil, nor any particular individual, but that collective society around the Church which is always watchful for the halting of God's servants. For good cause or bad the reproaches will come, but they ought not to be justified by the injurious, or frivolous, or licentious conduct of profeSBOrs. 2. Mischief of this ,ort had already accrued to the cause of Christ. Some widows had given evidence of the idle, wanton, worldly behaviour already condemned, showing a distinct swerve toward the e.dversary of sou ls e.nd the accw;er of the brethre11. "' Christ wu the true Spousu i Sa.tWl thu 110ducer.•-T. C. OB. V, 1-26.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 107