17: Pastoral Duties to Various Groups (1Tim 5:1-6:2a)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

One of the biggest challenges in pastoral work is the diversity of believers in the church, which consists of males and females, young and old, rich and poor, strong and weak in faith, married, singles or widows, and believers from diverse racial, cultural, educational and social backgrounds. Though diverse, the church is one body and the challenge lies in caring for different groups in different manners while manifesting the same fairness and upholding the same Christian principles. Timothy, being a young preacher and pastor, may have lacked experience in handling such diversity within the church. Hence, Paul pens this passage to provide him some guidelines for handling various groups of believers within the church.

B.     Key Verse

            “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality” (5:21).

C.     Did You Know…?

1. “Widows” (5:3): “Widows were particularly vulnerable in ancient societies because no pensions, government assistance, life insurance, or the like were available to them.”

2. “Taken into the number” (5:9): “The church in Ephesus seems to have maintained a list of widows supported by the church. While there is no evidence of an order of widows comparable to that of the overseers, it appears that those on the list were expected to devote themselves to prayer (v.5) and good deeds (v.10).”

3. “Washed the saints’ feet” (5:10): “This was an important courtesy whenever guests entered a house. So this function belonged to that culture.”

4. “Grow wanton” (5:11): “The Greek term suggests a young animal strenuously contending against its yoke.”

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(5:1-2)

(5:3-16)

(5:17-25)

(6:1-2)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. Segment Analysis

A.     5:1-2

1a. What attitude does Paul advise Timothy to have towards the older and younger groups of believers?

1b. What principles can we learn from these instructions?

B.     5:3-16

2a. What issue or problem is Paul addressing here?

2b. What solution does Paul give?

3a. Who are the true widows whom the church should provide for?

3b. Cite an example in the Bible of a true widow who devoted her life to serving God.

4. What are Paul’s comments and instructions about the following groups of widows?

4a. The widow who lives in pleasure

4b. Young widows

5. How does Paul describe believers who do not provide for their own household?

6. Based on the instructions of this paragraph, what principles can the church today apply when providing for believers in need?

C.     5:17-25

7. What type of elders is worthy of double honor?

8. How is verse 18 relevant to this context of attributing honor to elders? What other related teachings can we learn?

9. What caution must be exercised before receiving accusations against elders?

10. How should the church handle those who are sinning? Why?

11. What general principle does Paul charge Timothy to adhere to while exercising judgment (21)?

12a. What does Paul caution Timothy against in regards to the laying on of hands? Why?

12b. How does this instruction relate to the truths of 24-25?

D.     6:1-2a

13. How should believing bondservants behave towards their masters?

14. How can God’s name and doctrine be affected by our attitude on our jobs?