The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 124

■ ick and instructed and advised the younger members of their sex, 6. Ea:clusion of yoonger widows. " But younger widows refuse." They were not to have the honour of being put upon the roll, though, in case of destitution, not beyond Christian help. (1) Their chwngeableness. "For when they have waxed wanton against Christ they desire to marry; having condemnation, because they have rejected their firat faith." Under the influence of grief, their first thought might be to devote themselves to Christian service, and with that view to apply to be admitted on the roll of Church widows. But there would be dan£;er of their departing from that idea of their life. The fact of their desiring to 11'arry being regarded as a waxing wanton against Christ implies that the being admitted to the roll was a coming under some obligation to continue in widowhood for the sake of such services as they could render. Their being taken off the roll implies the condemnation of their rejecting their first faith, i.e. departing from the id@ which, at the first, with sacred feelings, they had adopted for their future earthly life. (2) Their triviality. "And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." This was a second danger, while remaining in widowhood and iia,·ing their names on the roll, their departing from the seriousness of the life which they 1,ad chosen. There is a way of going about from house to house which is simply a wasting of time. This leads to a habit of gossiping, and a habit of intermeddling. Things are said which ought not to be said-as being coloured and mischievous in their consequences. (3.) His advice to them ccnfirm«l, by experience. "I desire therefore that the younger widow1 mru-ry, bear children, rule the household, give none occasion to the adversary for reviling; for already some are turned after Satan." In view of the dangers mentioned, the apostle appoints, for tbe younger widows, marriagll and its duties. That would take away ocoasion for reviling. Some who bad given themselves to Christ as presbyter- widows were turned after Sa.tan, i.e. married, or given up to idle habits. (4) Such as n«lkd to be rdieved. "If any woman· that believeth bath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the Church be burdened; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed." This touches the former point of support. If they married, then they did not need Church support. But what was to be done with lonely and destitute young widows who remained unmarried? The apostle lays the burden of their support upon a believ- ing female relative (on the supposition that there was such). She is to undertake the burden, rather than that the Church should be burdened. It is implied that, in the event of there being: no one to undertake the burden, the Church is to step in aud act the part of the relative, without, however, placing her meantime upon t'.he honourable roll of Church widows.-R. F. Vers.17-25.-TM presbyterate. L HoNoUB DUE TO ELDERS. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching." Al associated with Paul, Timothy was to be classed as an extra- ordinary office-bearer in the Church. He had the organizing of the Ephesian Church, bnt it was intended that the rule should permanently reside in a class of ordinary offi.oe-bearers who are here called elders. The fact is plainly stated that elders were ordained by the apostles in every Church (Acts xiv. 23). It appears that the orge.ni- iation of a Church was regarded as defective without the appointment of elders (Titus L 5). In the Church of Ephesus, as in all other Churches that we read of, there was ., pltwa.lity of elder,. All the elders are regarded ae ruling or presiding, i.e. over the brethren who composed the Church. To elders it belongs to administer the laws which Christ has laid down for the government of his Church, and to take the general superintendence of the affairs of the congregation over which they are placed. It is e. rule in which good qualities may be evinced. such as fidelity, diligence, impartiality, 11.ffectionateness, a habit of dependence upon Divine grace. Ehlers as such are to be counted worthy of honour, but those that rule well are to be counted worthy of doulile honour, i~. the honour of excellence in the discharge of their duties added lo the honour belonging to their office. There are two classes of elders-those who merely rule, and those who, besides ruling, are charged with the Word and with lea.Ming. It ii an honour by itself to have to do with the Word, and especially with the teaching of it, ,,.. to be teaching elders ; but those who have not only the office but de, well in it-suggested by the word "labour"-are to be counted worthy of double honour, OB. .... 1-26.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 117