The Meaning of 1 Timothy 5:7 Explained

1 Timothy 5:7

KJV: And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.

YLT: and these things charge, that they may be blameless;

Darby: And these things enjoin, that they may be irreproachable.

ASV: These things also command, that they may be without reproach.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  these things  give in charge,  that  they may be  blameless. 

What does 1 Timothy 5:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Timothy was to teach these things so family members in the church would shoulder their rightful responsibility. He was also to do so to encourage the widows to seek the Lord rather than pursuing lives of "wanton pleasure" ( 1 Timothy 5:6).
"The Ephesians are evidently so spiritually immature that even after all the years of Paul"s ministry he is not able to speak to them as mature Christians but still is dealing with the basics [1]." [2]

Context Summary

1 Timothy 5:1-8 - Wise Treatment Of Young And Old
That minister of Jesus is happiest who introduces the tone and manner of family life into the church, 1 Timothy 5:1-2. The attitude of son or brother to other men is peculiarly fitting. But he must always keep up the spiritual tone. It is so easy to descend to frivolity and familiarity. Remember that all intercourse with others must be governed by the words-in all purity.
The special references to widows evidence the early practice of the Church. Provision was made for godly women who had lost husbands by death, and who in return for the weekly gift from church funds, gave themselves to Christian service. The Apostle indicates the age and characteristics of those who might be eligible. It was his clear judgment, however, that, wherever possible, it was becoming for children to make such provision as would place an aged mother or other relative beyond the reach of want or any need of claiming maintenance from church funds. Our nurses and deaconesses are the modern counterparts of the order of widows in the early Church; yet the standard of Christian living here emphasized may well be pondered and prayed over by all Christian women, who should, as far as possible without fee or reward, consider church service only second to the claims of home. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Timothy 5

1  Rules to be observed in reproving
3  Of widows
17  Of elders
23  A precept for Timothy's health
24  Some men's sins go before unto judgment, and some men's follow after

Greek Commentary for 1 Timothy 5:7

That they may be without reproach [ινα ανεπιλημπτοι ωσιν]
See note on 1 Timothy 3:2 for ανεπιλημπτος — anepilēmptos Final clause with ινα — hina and present subjunctive. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Timothy 5:7

1 Timothy 5:17 The elders that rule well [οι καλως προεστωτες πρεσβυτεροι]
See 1 Timothy 5:1 for ordinary sense of πρεσβυτερος — presbuteros for “older man.” But here of position in same sense as επισκοπος — episkopos (1 Timothy 3:2) as in Titus 1:5 = επισκοπος — episkopos in 1 Timothy 5:7. Cf. Luke‘s use of πρεσβυτερος — presbuteros (Acts 20:17) = Paul‘s επισκοπους — episkopous (Acts 20:28). Προεστωτες — Proestōtes is second perfect active participle of προιστημι — proistēmi (intransitive use) for which see note on 1 Timothy 3:4. [source]
1 Timothy 6:14 Without spot [ασπιλον]
Late adjective In inscription and papyri. Without reproach (ανεπιλημπτον — anepilēmpton). See note on 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:7. Until the appearing “Until the epiphany” (the second epiphany or coming of Christ). Late word in inscriptions for important event like the epiphany of Caligula, in the papyri as a medical term. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8 we have both επιπανεια — epiphaneia and παρουσια — parousia See note on Titus 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:8. [source]
1 Timothy 6:14 Without reproach [ανεπιλημπτον]
See note on 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:7. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Timothy 5:7 mean?

Also these things command so that above reproach they should be
Καὶ ταῦτα παράγγελλε ἵνα ἀνεπίλημπτοι ὦσιν

Καὶ  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
παράγγελλε  command 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: παραγγέλλω  
Sense: to transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἀνεπίλημπτοι  above  reproach 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνεπίλημπτος  
Sense: not apprehended, that cannot be laid hold of.
ὦσιν  they  should  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.