1 Timothy 5:10

5:9-16 Every one brought into any office in the church, should be free from just censure; and many are proper objects of charity, yet ought not to be employed in public services. Those who would find mercy when they are in distress, must show mercy when they are in prosperity; and those who show most readiness for every good work, are most likely to be faithful in whatever is trusted to them. Those who are idle, very seldom are only idle, they make mischief among neighbours, and sow discord among brethren. All believers are required to relieve those belonging to their families who are destitute, that the church may not be prevented from relieving such as are entirely destitute and friendless.

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have {c} washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. (c) This is spoken with regard to the manner of those countries.

Well reported of for good works; if she be a person of repute for actions concerning others which are consonant to the will and commandment of God. If she have brought up children well, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If she have lodged strangers; if when persons that are Christians have come from other places, either driven from them, or upon their occasion, and could not amongst pagans find a convenient inn, her house have been open to them. If she have washed the saints’ feet; if she have been ready to do the meanest offices for the servants of God, of which this washing of feet was one in great use in those hot countries, where they had not the benefit of shoes, either to cool, or refresh, or cleanse them. If she have relieved the afflicted; if to her ability she have relieved such as have been in any kind of distress. If she have diligently followed every good work; if though it may be she have not had ability, or opportunity, to do all the good works she would, yet she have diligently followed them, doing what she could; —let such a one be put into the catalogue of those whom the church will relieve, and honour, and employ.

1 Timothy 5:10 . Ἔργοις καλοῖς , good works ) These are presently enumerated, among which is also this species, παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ ἐπακολουθεῖν , where ἀγαθὸς is more than καλός .— ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν ) if she have rightly brought up children , either her own, or those of others, for the benefit of the Church.— ἐξενοδόχησεν , lodged strangers ) that she may be worthy of being publicly compensated by the Church for the benefits which she has conferred on its members.— πόδας ἔνιψεν , has washed the feet ) A Synecdoche of the part, for every kind of humble offices.— θλιβομένοις , the straitened [ the afflicted ]) with poverty.—[41] ἐπηκολούθησε , has followed up ) It is the part of ministers and men to take the lead in good works , Titus 3:8 ; Titus 3:14 ( προΐστασθαι , not as Engl. Vers. to maintain , but to take the lead in good works); of women to follow up , by assisting so far as they are able. The glosses in Pricæus are, ἐπηκολούθησεν , ἐκοινώνησεν , ὑπηρέτησεν . [41] Παντὶ ἔργῳ ἀγαθῷ , every good work ) Wherever any good springs forth, either near or at a distance, it is a sacred duty for us to go to its support. If it was the duty of widows, who subsequently were glad to enjoy the assistance of others, how much more does it become men, and those, too, appointed to offices? Many pay attention to their sons perhaps, their relatives, neighbours, or countrymen.

But, indeed, they consider it altogether alien to them (an uncalled for act) to bestow anything on persons unknown and on strangers; or if any case occur seeming to be rather unconnected with them, or a little more remote, to attempt anything in its behalf; 1 Samuel 25:10 . Whoever has attempted a good work will experience the truth of this.—V. g.

Well reported of (μαρτυρουμένη) Lit. born witness to or attested, as Acts 6:3; Acts 10:22; Hebrews 11:2. Comp. μαρτυρίαν καλὴν ἔχειν to have good testimony, 1 Timothy 3:7. For good works (ἐν ἔργοις καλοῖς) Lit. in good works; in the matter of. Comp. 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14. In the Gospels, ἔργον work appears with καλὸς and never with ἀγαθὸς. In Paul, always with ἀγαθὸς and never with καλὸς Kings In the Pastorals, with both. The phrase includes good deeds of all kinds, and not merely special works of beneficence. Comp. Acts 9:36. If (εἰ) Introducing the details of the general expression good works. Have brought up children (ἐτεκνοτρόφησεν) N.T.o. olxx; very rare in Class. The children may have been her own or others'. Lodged strangers (ἐξενοδόχησεν) N.T.o. olxx. On the duty of hospitality comp. 1 Timothy 3:2; Matthew 25:35; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 1:5. Washed the feet A mark of Oriental hospitality bestowed on the stranger arriving from a journey, and therefore closely associated with lodged strangers. Of the saints (ἁγίων) Ἅγιος is rare in Class. In lxx, the standard word for holy. Its fundamental idea is setting apart, as in Class., devoted to the gods. In O.T., set apart to God, as priests; as the Israelites consecrated to God. In N.T., applied to Christians. Ideally, it implies personal holiness. It is used of God, Christ, John the Baptist, God's law, the Spirit of God.

Paul often uses οἱ ἅγιοι as a common designation of Christians belonging to a certain region or community, as Philippians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:2. In such cases it does not imply actual holiness, but holiness obligatory upon those addressed, as consecrated persons, and appropriate to them. What ought to be is assumed as being. In this sense not in the Gospels (unless, possibly, Matthew 27:52) or in the Epistles of Peter and John. Rare in Acts. continued...

10. for good works—Greek, "IN honourable (excellent) works"; the sphere or element in which the good report of her had place (Tit 2:7). This answers to 1Ti 3:7, as to the bishop or presbyter, "He must have a good report of them which are without." if—if, in addition to being "well reported of." she … brought up children—either her own (1Ti 3:4, 12), or those of others, which is one of the "good works"; a qualification adapting her for ministry to orphan children, and to mothers of families. lodged strangers—1Ti 3:2, "given to hospitality" (Tit 1:8); in the case of presbyters. washed … saints' feet—after the example of the Lord (Joh 13:14); a specimen of the universal spirit of humbly "by love serving one another," which actuated the early Christians. relieved the afflicted—whether by pecuniary or other relief. followed … good—(1Th 5:15; compare instances in Mt 25:35, 36).

Verse 10. - Hath for have , A.V. (five times); used hospitality to for lodged , A.V. Well reported of ( μαρτυρουμένη ; see 1 Timothy 3:7 and note). This use is frequent in the Epistle to the Hebrews ( Hebrews 7:8 ; Hebrews 11:2, 4, 5, 39 ), also in 3 John 1:6, 12 . Good works ( ἔργοις καλοῖς ). The phrase occurs frequently in the pastoral Epistles, both in the singular and in the plural ( 1 Timothy 2:10 ; 1 Timothy 3:1 ; in this verse; ver. 25; 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:21 ; 2 Timothy 3:17 ; Titus 1:16 ; Titus 2:7, 14 ; Titus 3:1, 8, 14 ). Our Lord had first used the phrase, and taught how "good works" were to be the distinctive marks of his disciples ( Matthew 5:16 ), as they were evidences of his own mission ( John 10:32, 33 ). It denotes all kinds of good actions as distinguished from sentiments . Love, e.g. is not a good work . Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and visiting the sick are good works (see Matthew 25:35 , etc.). Brought up children ( ἐτεκνοτρύφησεν ); only here in the New Testament or LXX., but found, as well as τεκνοτροφία , in Aristotle. The word must mean "brought up children of her own," because τέκνον does not mean "a child" with reference to its age, but "a child" with reference to its parent who bare it. The only apparent exception in Holy Scripture is 1 Thessalonians 2:7 , where the nurse's alumni are called "her own children," but obviously this is no rent exception. The classical usage is the same.

We must, therefore, understand the apostle here to mean "if she hath brought up her children well and carefully, and been a good mother to them." The precept corresponds to that laid down for an ἐπίσκοπος in 1 Timothy 3:4 . Possibly, as Grotius suggests, a contrast may be intended with the conduct of some heathen mothers, who, if they were very poor, exposed their children. Used hospitality to ( ἐξενοδόχησεν ); only here in the New Testament or LXX., but, as well as ξενοδόκος and ξενοδοχία , not uncommon in classical Greek. The common form in the New Testament is ξενίζειν . (For the inculcation of hospitality, see 1 Timothy 3:2 , note, and 3 John 1:5 .) Washed the saints' feet (see John 13:5-8 ; and comp. Luke 7:44 , where the omission to provide water to wash the feet of a guest is reprobated as inhospitable). The saints ( Romans 12:13 ). Hath relieved ( ἐπήρκεσεν ); only here and twice in ver. 16 in the New Testament, and. in 1 Macc. 8:26 and Romans 11:35; but common in classical Greek. The afflicted ( τοῖς θλιβομενοις ); used of any kind of trouble or afflictions ( θλίψις ); compare, for the precept, Romans 13 :15. Diligently followed ( ἐπηκολούθησε ; comp. 1 Peter 2:21 ). The idea is somewhat similar to that of "pressing on toward the goal," in Philippians 3:14 (see also ver. 12, where διώκω is rendered in A.V., "I follow after"). Good work.

10 . well reported of ] So the word is used of good testimony, in the appointment of the deacons, Acts 6:3 , ‘seven men of good report;’ of Ananias, ‘a devout man … well reported of by all the Jews,’ Acts 22:12 . for good works ] Lit. ‘in the matter of good works;’ the preposition expresses ‘the range in which a power acts,’ Winer, § 48, 3, a. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:2 , ‘God’s minister in the Gospel of Christ;’ and 1 Timothy 1:18 with note. These good works are not to be limited to such as a widow with means could perform. All were within the reach of the devoted Christian widow, poor as she might be. And pastoral experience can shew similar ‘wonderful works’ still wrought by ‘pious poverty’ for the Saviour.