1 Timothy 5:1
1 Rebuke [epiplesso] not [me] an elder, [presbuteros] but [alla] intreat
[parakaleo] him as [hos] a father; [pater] and the younger men [neos] as [hos] brethren; [adelphos] KJV-Interlinear
5 Do not sharply rebuke an older
man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, NASB
When dealing with
others, we are to not deal with them with harsh or insulting or radical words, and
certainly not through violence or intimidating tactics. And certainly there are lots of churches or
preachers out there that take this approach toward their members. Believing that their approach is tough and
necessary in order to convince or impress their members, so that they can
retain them as members, or force them into making some sort of overt change in
their life, a change that meets with their standards of conduct.
However, the better
approach which is mandated by God, here through Paul, is by entreaty or appeal
or persuasion.It is far more successful
if the person, you are trying to get into compliance with doctrine, makes their
change voluntarily and especially if they are a part of the decision process
for making that change.
Paul describes four
categories of people in these two verses, namely older men, younger men, older
women and younger women, with respect as to how to deal with them.
Depending on your age,
when you approach other people, they will more than likely be older or younger
than you.Older people will have a
natural tendency of believing that they know a little bit more about life than
you, and younger folks will probably have the notion that you are old and old
fashion, and not in with the new ways of thinking or doing things.
So, in other words, you
have to fight an uphill battle from a starting losing position.
As for older men, and this refers to older in age, not is church position
such as an elder is typically referred.
But as for older men, your approach should be just as though you were
talking with your own dad.Respect is in
order.And respect means that you listen
first, let them have their say and then list your position in doctrine and make
comparisons between the two opinions, in an orderly fashion.
Old age in men is a
badge of honor, regardless of their success or accomplishments in life. It is a age old
tradition and is even supported by the Bible, Lev 19:32, Prov
4:1-4, Prov 16:31, Prov
20:29, Job 32:4, 6.
When older men enter a
room, you stand. When older men require
a seat, you give up your chair. When older men speak, you listen and wait to be
invited to speak, otherwise you remain silent, or you first request permission
to speak.
Younger men are to be
treated as you would a brother or sibling of your own family.
A brother assumes no
superiority, but as an equal.And the
approach in teaching younger men, Christian principles, gets better results if
you talk on an equal basis, not from an arrogant or superior or even an
inferior position.
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