older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Do not harshly rebuke an elder man, but exhort him as you would your father. Correction is medicine and always bitter; respect for age makes him more willing to bear reproof. Yet this does not mean sparing old men to sin without correction, only that you moderate your tone so they may hear you.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Timothy 5:1-25
Here the apostle gives rules to Timothy, and in him to other ministers, in reproving. Ministers are reprovers by office; it is a part, though the least pleasing part, of their office; they are to preach the word, to reprove and rebuke, Ti2 4:2.
Commenting on 1 Timothy 5:1-2
The elder women as mothers,.... When they offend in any point, they are to be reasoned, and argued, and pleaded with, as children should with their mothers; see Hos 2:2 and are to be considered as mothers in Israel, and to be treated with great tenderness and respect.