1 Timothy 5:1

1 Timothy 5:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,
• New Living Translation (NLT)Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.

Context of 1 Timothy 5:1

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

1 Timothy 5:1 word by word

Πρεσβυτέρῳ μὴ ἐπιπλήξῃς ἀλλὰ παρακάλει ὡς πατέρα, νεωτέρους ὡς ἀδελφούς,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Rebukeἐπιπλήσσωepiplēssō · to rebukeG1969
• notμήmē · notG3361
• an elderπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder: oldG4245
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• intreatπαρακαλέωparakaleō · to plead/comfortG3870
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• a fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• the younger menνέοςneos neōteros · newG3501
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 5:1

• 1 Timothy 5:19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
• Leviticus 19:32“ ‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
• Deuteronomy 33:9He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
• Galatians 2:11When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
• 1 Timothy 5:17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
• Acts 14:23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
• Acts 15:4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
• Acts 20:17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
• James 5:14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
• 1 Peter 5:1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
• 2 John 1:1The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—
• 3 John 1:1The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
• Revelation 4:4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
• Romans 13:7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
• Galatians 6:1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
• 2 Timothy 2:24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Rebuke not an elder - That is, an elderly person; for the word is here taken in its natural sense, and signifies one advanced in years. At 1 Timothy 5:17, it is taken in what may be termed its ecclesiastical meaning, and signifies, an officer in the Church, what we commonly call a presbyter or bishop; for sometimes these terms were confounded. There are but few cases in which it at all becomes a young man to reprove an old man, and especially one who is a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Rebuke not an elder - The word “elder” here is not used in the sense in which it often is, to denote an officer of the church, a presbyter, but in its proper and usual sense, to denote an aged man. This is evident, because the apostle immediately mentions in contradistinction from the elder, “the younger men,” where it cannot be supposed that he refers to them as officers. The command to treat the “elder” as a “father,” also shows the same thing. By the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Directions as to the elder and younger men and women. (1-2) And as to poor widows. (3-8) Concerning widows. (9-16) The respect to be paid to elders. Timothy is to take care in rebuking offenders, in ordaining ministers, and as to his own health. (17-25) Verses 1-2 Respect must be paid to the dignity of years and place. The younger, if faulty, must be rebuked, not as desirous to find fault with them, but as willing to make the best of them. There is need…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25Proper behavior in God's spiritual household involves everyone, including: the old and young (5:1–2), widows (5:3–16), old people (5:17–25), and slaves (6:1–2a). Showing respect within the household goes beyond social boundaries.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-251Ti 5:1-25. General Directions as to How Timothy Should Deal with Different Classes in the Church. 1. an elder--in age; probably not an elder in the ministry; these latter are not mentioned till 1Ti 5:17, "the elders that rule." Compare Ac 2:17, "your old men," literally, "elders." Contrasted with "the younger men." As Timothy was admonished so to conduct himself as to give no man reason to despise his youth (1Ti 4:12); so here he is told to bear in mind…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 5:1

• Church
• Commandments
• Continence
• Minister, Christian
• Reproof
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Beforehand
• Deny
• Guide
• Marry
• Reproachfully
• Requite
• Reward
• Intreat; Intreaty; (entreat)
• Rebuke
• Sister

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings