1Ti 5:11-13 | JFB | STEP | 11. younger-- than sixty years old ( ). refuse-- to take on the roll of presbyteress widows. wax wanton-- literally, "over-strong" ( ). against Christ-- rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom [Jerome]. they will-- Greek, "they wish"; their desire is to marry again.

‏ 1 Timothy 5:11-13

11. younger--than sixty years old (1Ti 5:9).

refuse--to take on the roll of presbyteress widows.

wax wanton--literally, "over-strong" (2Ch 26:16).

against Christ--rebelling against Christ, their proper Bridegroom [Jerome].

they will--Greek, "they wish"; their desire is to marry again.

12. Having--Bringing on themselves, and so having to bear as a burden (Ga 5:10) judgment from God (compare 1Ti 3:6), weighing like a load on them.

cast off their first faith--namely, pledged to Christ and the service of the Church. There could be no hardship at the age of sixty or upwards in not marrying again (end of 1Ti 5:9), for the sake of serving better the cause of Christ as presbyteresses; though, to ordinary widows, no barrier existed against remarriage (1Co 7:39). This is altogether distinct from Rome's unnatural vows of celibacy in the case of young marriageable women. The widow-presbyteresses, moreover, engaged to remain single, not as though single life were holier than married life (according to Rome's teaching), but because the interests of Christ's cause made it desirable (see on 1Ti 3:2). They had pledged "their first faith" to Christ as presbyteress widows; they now wish to transfer their faith to a husband (compare 1Co 7:32, 34).

13. withal--"at the same time, moreover."

learn--usually in a good sense. But these women's "learning" is idleness, trifling, and busybodies' tattle.

wandering--Greek, "going about."

from house to house--of the members of the Church (2Ti 3:6). "They carry the affairs of this house to that, and of that to this; they tell the affairs of all to all" [Theophylact].

tattlers--literally "trifling talkers." In 3Jo 10, translated "prating."

busybodies--mischievously busy; inconsiderately curious (2Th 3:11). Ac 19:19, "curious," the same Greek. Curiosity usually springs from idleness, which is itself the mother of garrulity [Calvin].

speaking--not merely "saying." The subject-matter, as well as the form, is involved in the Greek word [Alford].

which they ought not--(Tit 1:11).