Ver. 16.-Further directions a, to the support of widows. There is here 11, return to ~he eu bject of priV11,te beneficence. I. 'l'HE DUTY 011' CHRISTIAN WOMEN TO SUPPORT THEm WIDOWED REl,ATIVl!:8, "If 11ny woman that believes hath widows, let support be given to them." The allusion is probably to the younger widows, whose future would be very uncertain till, at least, they should marry. The apostle had already provided for the case of aged widows. It was the plain duty of relatives to watch over the welfare of the younger women, who might be sisters, sisters-in-law, or nieces. The apostle founds the duty upon the principle that the gospel has not superseded, but rather strengthened, the claims of kinship. Il. REASONS FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THIS PRIVATE DUTY. "And let not the Church be burdened, that it may relieve those that are widow~ indeed." 1. It w(}11,/d burden the Church greatly to increase the nwmber of the J•ensioners on its generosity. 2. The exe:rcise of private beneficence would allow a fuller provision to be mad,e for th,,se aged widows who were really friendless, lwrMless, and destitute.-'!'. C. Vere. 17, 18.-Directiona rupecting the hon(}11,r due to the elders of the Church. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the Word and doctrine." J. 'l'HE CLASS 011' PERSONS HERE REFERRED TO. 1. It is evident that the apostle knew of no officers in the Church at ~Ephesus but these elders, with the deacons. 2. Their principal duty was government. It was at least the prominent element in their calling. 3. The passaye suygest.~ that, while all tlie elders governed, all did not labour in the Word and doctrine. Each Church in that day had its band of elders at its bead, but the teaching function was not. universal, though by-ancl-by it assumed greater prominence and commanded greater distinction and respect. II. THE HONOUR DUE TO ELDERS. They were to be counted worthy of double honour; that is, they were to be liberally provided for by the Church, as a special mode of showing respect to their office. III. THE GROUND FOB THIS INJUNCTION. "For the Scripture saith, 'l'hou sbalt not muzzle an ox while treading out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his hire." These two sayings, one coutained in Scripture (Deut. xxv. 4), the other a proverbial saying used by our Lord himself (Luke x. 7), affords an argument for the sup1•ort of Christian labourers. 1. 'J'his shows that both the Law and the gospel sanction the due support of the ministry. 2. It shows that the minister's support is a matter of right, and not of compassion or kindness. The animals that laboured had a right to the fruit of their labours.-T. C.
Ver. 19.-Directions as to accusations against eldere. "Against an elder receive not an accusation, except it be upon two or three witnesses." J. ELDERS MAY BE EXPOSED TO STTCH ACCUSATIONS BY THEm VERY ZEAL AND ll'AITH- ll'ULNESS. 1. Their duty being to convince the gainsayers a11d to reprove the faults of men, they would be exposed to the risk of false accmation. Good ministers would be ofteuer accused if their accusers could but find judges willing: to receive their charges. 2. It is the interest of the Church of Christ to maintain the reputation of its ministers unchallenged. It involves a sort of scandal for them to be accused at all, even though they should afterwards be cleared. II. THE COURSE RECOMMENDED IN CASES 011' THIS SORT. 1. It diminishes the chances of s11,ch charges being made, that th~ testimony of a Hingle ma/i,.ious witness will not suffice to have an accusation even formally considered. 2. It would be a serious dis- couragement to a good minister for such charges to be entertained upon partial or defec- tive evidence. 3. The defe1·ence due to tlie position of a man chosen by the Church as its pasto1· demanded a wise caution in the reception of charges against him. 4. Yet it was the duty of Timothy to make an investigation supported by adequate evidence. There is nothing in the minister's position to exempt him from a just inquiry and its due consequences.-'!'. C.
Ver. 20.-The manner of public rebuh!. The apostle refers here, not to offending elders, but to members of the Church generally, as we j11stly infer from the change of number. It is the elder in the one case; it is" those who sin" in the other. 108 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. [OH, 1', 1-26.
I. THE PUBLICITY OF REBUXE. "Those that sin rebuke before all" 1. The cla,n referred to consists not of those merely overtaken in a fault (Gal. vi. 1), but, as the tense of the word sic'.nifies, persons given to sinning. Thus great consideration and caution are to he exercised. The casual transgressor might be dealt with privately and would not need further dealing on his exhibiting evidrnce of repentance. 2. It waa 'to be merely rebuke, not exclusion from the Church. If the rebuke was unheeded, the extreme sentence wonld follow. 3. TM rebuke waa to be public. (1) The transgression may b.ave been very pnblio, t.o the scandal of religion; (2) the publicity would involve the full disclosure of the sin, and involve shame. II. THE DESIGN OF PUllLIC REBUKE. "In order that the rest also may fear,• Suoh a discipline would have a deterrent influence upon others. The strictness of the law would not be without effects upon conscience.-T. C.