Elders and Younger Men 1 Timothy 5:1

After giving Timothy, Paul the apostle's young “son in the faith”, instructions concerning “reading, exhortation and doctrine”, Paul told him to “neglect not the gift” that was within him, “meditate upon these things” and “take heed” to himself because “in doing this” he would “both save” himself, “and them that” heard him. As Paul began with the first verse of what we know as the fifth chapter of his letter to Timothy, Paul gave directives concerning specific people within the church. He began with “elder” and “younger men” where we read:

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

The verse begins, “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father;” Paul directed Timothy's attention toward men who were older in the church as he wrote, “Rebuke” which means “to strike upon, beat upon or to chastise with words, to chide and upbraid” “not an elder” or “man of age, the older of two people, men more advanced in life, a senior man or forefather” “but” which is the disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be stated takes priority over what was previously said, “intreat him as” which means “call to one's side, call for, summon, beg, beseech, encourage, comfort and strengthen” “a father” or “male ancestor and founder of a family”. Rather than “strike, beat upon or chastise” men who were older than he, Timothy was to “call them” to his side and seek to encourage and comfort them as he would his own father.

The verse continues, “and the younger men as brethren;” Paul went on to add, “and the younger men” who were “those who were more recently born, youthful” and not as old as Timothy “as brethren” or “brothers who were born to the same parents”. These “younger men” tended to be at or younger than Timothy, and when he oversaw them as a pastor, he was to act towards them as though they were his physical brothers.

While we meditate upon Paul's words, let us allow ourselves to consider Pau and inspirationally the “Holy Spirit's” concern over relationships within the church. Often older people resent a younger person giving them instructions and telling them what to do, so Paul directed Timothy in how to manage them. Also, when young people have someone who is the “overseer” within the church who is not much older than they, they too resent being instructed by their comrade. The wisdom in Paul's words transfers to us as well. We are much more effective in the kingdom of God if we “intreat” older men, and we also excel with “younger men” if we do not act superior to them and treat them as equals. Let us allow the Lord to show us at least two things in this verse: Relationships matter, and there is a wise way to manage those relationships with elder and younger men.

Next time Paul shares about “elder” and “younger” women , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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