Rebuke {1} not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

(1) Of giving personal reprehensions appropriately, according to the degrees of ages and gender.

People's New Testament

5:1,2 The Widows of the Church

SUMMARY OF I TIMOTHY 5:

Rules for Reproving. Honoring Widows. How They Should Be Supported. Who Are to Be Taken into the Number of Widows. The Younger Widows. The Presbyters. A Charge Concerning Timothy's Death.

Rebuke not an elder. An aged man. Treat him with deference due to age. It is evident from the four classes named together, the aged women, and the young women, that the reference in the word elder is not to office, but to age.

Wesley's Notes

5:1 Rebuke not - Considering your own youth, with such a severity as would otherwise be proper.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 5

1Ti 5:1-25. General Directions as to How Timothy Should Deal with Different Classes in the Church.

1. an elder-in age; probably not an elder in the ministry; these latter are not mentioned till 1Ti 5:17, "the elders that rule." Compare Ac 2:17, "your old men," literally, "elders." Contrasted with "the younger men." As Timothy was admonished so to conduct himself as to give no man reason to despise his youth (1Ti 4:12); so here he is told to bear in mind his youth, and to behave with the modesty which becomes a young man in relation to his elders.

Rebuke not-literally, "Strike not hard upon"; Rebuke not sharply: a different word from "rebuke" in 2Ti 4:2.

entreat-exhort.

as brethren-and therefore equals; not lording it over them (1Pe 5:1-3).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:1,2 Respect must be paid to the dignity of years and place. The younger, if faulty, must be rebuked, not as desirous to find fault with them, but as willing to make the best of them. There is need of much meekness and care in reproving those who deserve reproof.