Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
The aged women likewise - I believe elderly women are meant, and not deaconesses.
That they be in behavior - ̔· That they be in their dress, gait, and general deportment, such as their holy calling requires; that they be not like the world, but like the Church, decent without, and adorned with holiness within.
Not false accusers - · Not devils; we have had the same expression applied in the same way, I Timothy 3:11 (note).
Not given to much wine - ͅ ͅ · Not enslaved by much wine, not habitual drunkards or tipplers; habit is a species of slavery. Both among the Greeks and Romans old women were generally reputed to be fond of much wine; hence the ancient scholiast on Homer, Il. vi., speaking of old women, says: ͅ ͅ ̔ ̔ · At this age they delight in wine; which words Ovid seems to have translated literally: Vinosior aetas haec erat . It is likely, therefore, that it was customary among the elderly women, both Greeks and Romans, to drink much wine, and because it was inconsistent with that moderation, which the Gospel requires, the apostle forbids it: doubtless it was not considered criminal among them, because it was a common practice; and we know that the Greek philosophers and physicians, who denied wine to young persons, judged it to be necessary for the aged. See the note on I Timothy 5:23.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 4:24
Ephesians 4:27
Titus 2:7
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
E-mail this page
