Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Timothy 5:15
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
15. some are turned aside ] Some of the younger widows who had been placed upon the roll had thus been led astray; St Paul was not merely theorising in 1Ti 5:11-13. The aorist here is rightly rendered ‘are turned’ according to the account given in 1Ti 5:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For some are already turned aside after Satan – That is, some young widows. The meaning is, that in the respects above mentioned 1Ti 5:13, they had followed the great Tempter, rather than the Lord Jesus. This is stated as a reason why they should not be admitted into the number of the widows who were to be maintained at the expense of the church, and to whom the care of the younger female members was to be committed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. For some are already turned aside] Some of these young widows, for he appears to be still treating of them, are turned aside to idolatry, to follow Satan instead of Christ. Slight deviations, in the first instance, from a right line, may lead at last to an infinite distance from Christ.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We have scandals enough already, we had need take as good heed as we can that we have no more; some young women already are apostatized (and, possibly, for the sake or by the occasion of such marriages) to Judaism or paganism; or, it may be, to a loose and lewd course of life, not suiting the profession of Christianity.
If any man or woman that believeth have widows; if any men or women that are Christians have any widows that are nearly related to them, if themselves be able,
let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; and not turn off that natural duty which they owe to their parents, or near relations, to relieve them, to the church, which hath others enough to look after, and upon which there lies only a moral and Christian obligation.
That it may relieve them that are widows indeed; that so the alms of the church may go to relieve those only who are perfectly desolate, having neither husbands nor any other near relations to provide for them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. ForFor in the caseof some this result has already ensued; “Some (widows) arealready turned aside after Satan,” the seducer (not by fallingaway from the faith in general, but) by such errors as arestigmatized in 1Ti 5:11-13,sexual passion, idleness, &c., and so have given occasion ofreproach (1Ti 5:14). “Satanfinds some mischief still for the idle hands to do.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For some are already turned aside after Satan. Meaning some of those younger widows, whom the apostle knew, and had observed to have departed from the faith they first professed, and turned their backs on Christ, and gave themselves up to carnal lusts and pleasures, and an idle and impure life and conversation, walked according to the course of this world, and the prince of it, by whom they were led captive at his will; for so everyone that apostatizes from a profession of Christ, and follows either false teachers, and their doctrines, as the Gnostics, that condemned marriage, or any sinful and impure way of life, may be said to turn aside after Satan; and as that apostle knew this to be fact, from his own observation, he therefore gives the above advice.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Are turned aside (). Second aorist (effective) passive indicative of . See 1:6.
After Satan ( ). “Behind Satan.” Late use of (behind) as a preposition. Used by Jesus of disciples coming behind (after) him (Mt 16:24).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “For some are already” (ede gar tines) “For some are at this moment,” already. Some very young widows had already conducted themselves in the above forbidden manner to cause a scandal, bring reproach upon the church, to cause the Word to be blasphemed, Tit 2:8.
2) “Turned aside after Satan.” (eksetrapeson opiso satana) “turned aside trailing, going after Satan.” These young widows had apparently turned aside or away from: 1) their first love to Christ, 2) their fidelity to their former companion, 3) and were pursuing and chasing after sex pleasure, satisfaction of sex impulses, walking in the footsteps of Satan-in sin – to subsidize such young women, to keep them idle wanderers, would be to bring reproach on the church; This was worse than a second marriage, 2Pe 2:10; Jud 1:7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
15 For some have already turned aside It is certain, that there is no ordinance so holy that some evil may not arise out of it through the wickedness of men. Yet those things which are necessary ought to remain unmoved, whatever may happen to them, although the sky should fall. But when we are at liberty to choose either way, and when this or that has been found by experience to be advantageous, it is a matter of prudence to lay aside what was formerly approved, as in the present case. It was not at all necessary that women, who were still young, should be admitted into the rank of widows; experience shewed that it was dangerous and hurtful; and, therefore, Paul justly advises to take care for the future that nothing of this kind may happen.
If the revolt of some women was regarded by him as a sufficiently strong argument for seeking a universal remedy, how many arguments would the Papists have for abolishing their filthy celibacy, if they had any regard to edification! But they choose rather to strangle millions of souls by the cruel cords of a wicked and diabolical law than to loose a single knot; and this makes it evident how widely their cruelty differs from the holy zeal of Paul.
After Satan The expression is worthy of notice; because no one can turn aside from Christ, in the smallest degree, without following Satan; for he has dominion over all who do not belong to Christ. We learn from this how destructive is turning aside from the right course, since, from being children of God, it makes us slaves of Satan, and, by withdrawing us from the government of Christ, places Satan over us as our guide. (97)
(97) “Since the gospel is preached to us, it is Jesus Christ who holds out his scepter, and shews us that he wishes to be our king, and to take us for his people. When we have thus made profession of the gospel, if we do not persevere till the end, if it happen that we debauch ourselves in any way, not only do we refuse to be in obedience to the Son of God, but we give to Satan all mastery over us, and he will seize it, and we must be in his service in spite of our teeth. If this is dreadful and absolutely shocking, ought we not to be better advised than we have been to conceal ourselves under the wings of our God, and to suffer ourselves to be governed by him, till he renew us by his Holy Spirit in such a manner that we shall not be so giddy and foolish as we have been? For that purpose, let us consider that we must have our Lord Jesus Christ for our guide; for if we wish to be truly the people of God, the saying of the Prophet must be fulfilled in us, that the people shall walk, and David their king shall go before them. Let us always have his doctrine before our eyes, and let us follow him step by step, hearing his voice as that of our good Shepherd, (Joh 10:4).” — Fr. Ser.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) For some are already turned aside.It was the backsliding of these nameless ones, probably, which had been the immediate occasion of these directions to Timothy. Although these unhappy sisters had worked such great mischief to the cause of Christ, still St. Paul, with his tender grace and love, forbore to mention any by name. They had undertaken a task too severe for them to carry out, and had miserably failed. He spares these poor erring sisters, but directs the chief pastor of the Church at Ephesus, how to guard against such fatal results for the future.
After Satan.They had swerved from the narrow, thorny road of self-denial which they had chosen for themselves, and perhaps dreading, after their public profession, to form afresh any legal marriage ties, had followed that downward path of sensuality which surely leads to Satan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Some The apostle has obviously drawn his picture from actual life. Indeed, the when they wax wanton of 1Ti 5:11 implies that such was the character of the women of the period that it would be the probable course of all alike; and that nothing but marriage or age was likely to keep them in order.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ti 5:15 . Reason for the injunction given: .
, viz. “widows;” . . .; comp. 1Ti 1:6 ; , comp. Act 5:37 ; Act 20:30 : they have turned away, viz. from the Christian path of life, and have followed Satan. This does not necessarily mean a formal apostasy from Christianity, or a connection with the heretics; it may also mean yielding oneself up to an un-Christian, carnal life (Wiesinger). This arose from their not living in accordance with the rule laid down by the apostle.
On , Bengel rightly remarks: particula provocandi ad experientiam. De Wette is quite unjustified in asserting that Paul could not yet have had such an experience.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Ver. 15. Turned aside after Satan ] Revolted from Christian religion, going out of God’s blessing into the world’s warm sun. These could not choose unto themselves a worse condition.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ti 5:15 . : See note on 1Ti 1:3 .
.: This is a pregnant phrase, meaning “ They have turned out of the way [of life and light] and have followed after Satan ”. “The prepositional use of , which is foreign to profane writers, takes its origin from the LXX (Hebr. )” (Blass, Gram . p. 129). The primary phrase is [also or ] . For in an unfavourable sense cf. Luk 21:8 , Joh 12:19 , Act 5:37 ; Act 20:30 , 2Pe 2:10 , Jud 1:7 , Rev 13:3 . The phrase, no doubt, refers to something worse than a second marriage.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
some. App-124.
turred aside. See 1Ti 1:6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
1Ti 5:15. , already) A particle used for the purpose of appealing to experience.-, some) rashly professing widowhood.-, have been turned aside) and thereby have given occasion to calumny.- , after Satan) who turned them aside from Christ.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Ti 5:15
for already some are turned aside after Satan.-Some had already forsaken God and turned aside to follow Satan. And he warns them against the influences that lead in that direction.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Phi 3:18, Phi 3:19, 2Ti 1:15, 2Ti 2:18, 2Ti 4:10, 2Pe 2:2, 2Pe 2:20-22, 2Pe 3:16, 1Jo 2:19, Jud 1:4, Jud 1:5, Rev 12:9
Reciprocal: Mat 18:7 – unto 1Ti 1:6 – turned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ti 5:15. Some necessarily refers to widows who had unfortunately been employed by the church, and had proved the very things Paul warns against in verse 11. When their fleshly desires became active, they forsook the consecrated work they had espoused, and broke out into the disorderly conduct, proving the mistake that was made by taking in the younger widows. Since Satan is the sponsor of all evil, this backsliding of the young widows is attributed to that great enemy of righteousness.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Ti 5:15. Some. Obviously limited by the context to the so-called widows. The formula, so common in these Epistles, implies that St. Paul knew, and that Timothy would understand, of whom he thus speaks. The warning was not uncalled for. Facts had shown that there was urgent need for it.
Are already turned after Satan. Better, have been turned The Greek, indeed, refers to some definite time present to St. Pauls thoughts, probably that of his last visit to Ephesus. Those of whom he speaks had been turned out of the right path by the great Adversary, and so were exposed to the revilings of those who, consciously or unconsciously, were doing his work.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
1Ti 5:15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
Here we have the crux of what Paul was getting at. If you keep them out of trouble then they will not be an occasion for gossip and charges from without the church.
Paul mentions that some have already followed this route and this is enough. The indications are that they have not only just been a problem, but that they have fallen into sin in some manner.
The sin may well relate to the woman of verse six that is in pleasure and that is spiritually dead.
I had to wonder as I studied this text if the old adage – “Keep them barefoot and pregnant” came from Paul’s line of thinking.
I don’t say any of this to slight women, nor do I believe that slight was in the mind of Paul.
The place for the woman is in the home doing what she is naturally talented at. Raising kids and keeping her husband happy.
She was not meant to work and support the family, she was meant to raise and care for it. Again, I am not saying women can’t or shouldn’t work if the need arises.
IIII. THE CRITERIA OF WIDOW SUPPORT