(1Ti 5:17)  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”   “Double honor”: highly respected in a way that is demonstrated. Ephesians 4:11 says a pastor is “given” to the church. We live in a day in which we as a society respect authority less and less. This has spilled over into the church. Let us think and act as those influenced and in subjection to God’s Word.

(1Ti 5:17)  “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” The context tells us this is not speaking of an older man, but of the position of pastor (Titus 1:5,7). “Rule”: the church is not a democracy but to be guided by the pastor who is submitting to the Word of God – period; no debate.

(1Ti 5:3)  “Honour widows that are widows indeed.”  The New Testament aided widows; but not all women who were widows. There was a standard of spirituality, age, and need required. The church was not to help if they had not demonstrated a life of sacrificial dedication to the Lord (by implication, something of which should be found in each of our lives). The church was not to help where it would remove the responsibility of their care from their family. [see entire chapter].  

(1Ti 5:2) “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”  The words, “with all purity”, reveals the Lord understands we are still in this flesh. But notice, how we overcome the flesh. It is through the reprogramming of our minds to embrace the Word. The women of our church are our sisters – truth. They are children of our Father and therefore we should think of them as our sisters and treat them as such.  

(1Ti 5:1)  “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”  Believers seem to give lip-service to Scriptural teaching that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. It is because we are still in this flesh and it is so hard to move past it. Yet, the spiritual is more real than the physical. The spiritual has always been, the physical has only been around a little over 7,000 years. Seek to embrace truth – fellow believers are our brothers and sisters.

(1Ti 5:1)  “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;”  When we see the word, “elder”, we must distinguish between an elderly man and a pastor. The context here plainly says, “elderly man”. Believers are to show respect to those of age (in the Lord), in this case when they are wrong about something.

(1Ti 4:16)  “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”   The word “save” is used in more ways than eternal life. Context determines its meaning. For example, Peter cries out when sinking in water, “Lord save me.” He is referencing drowning. Here it is referring to the protection from sinning against God by entering into false doctrine. Remember, Timothy is a missionary, responsible for teaching others (doctrine). 

(1Ti 4:16)  “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”  Notice, “Take heed…unto the doctrine…”  People say, “Doctrine should not divide us. We are to love one another.” Our love is first to God and from there towards man. To cast aside that which God has commanded (given) is to not love Him. To cling to doctrine is not to stop loving others, but to have our devotion of heart correct in the sight of God.