URC Daily Devotion 29 September 2025

1 Timothy 5: 1 – 2

Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity.

Reflection

Sometimes in the New Testament there is a possible confusion in the Greek, since the word ‘presbuteros’ is sometimes used to denote an office in the Church (Elder) and sometimes used in a more ordinary sense as an older person (a male older person here). There is the same ambiguity in English now of course, but we generally work it out quite easily. Here, in 1 Timothy 5, it seems to be about an older man, rather than a church Elder. And the hearers of this letter are being exhorted to treat others (presumably in the church community) as they would family members. Speak to an older man as you would to a father, to younger ones as your brother, to older woman as your mother, and younger women as sisters. The advice seems to be addressed to younger people, and we might recognise the ‘ageism’ that might make people ‘harsh’ towards older people, and perhaps also the way that sexual attraction might intervene, sometimes inappropriately. 

It has become a common assumption in Christian circles that we are family; brothers, sisters, siblings. Minutes of church meetings among some early Congregationalists reveal a culture in which people were given no titles except ‘brother’ or ‘sister’. This can, at its best, create a culture both of equality and also, potentially, of respectful affection. In the company of the Church we are not comrades, members (as in a club), or part of a hierarchy. We are siblings, family, held together in affection, mutually responsible for one another, bound in love. For some, this might be a rather awesome, even unwelcome, thought. Better to be ‘friends’ perhaps; like-minded, freely chosen, free to go different ways, welcome company. 

Take a moment to imagine the people with whom you worship and share Christian community. Are they friends or family? 

Prayer

God of love,
thank you for my siblings,
for all my relations, in faith. 
Give me grace to cherish them,
to care for them and spend time with them,
to nurture love and respect,
to grow in understanding of them. 
And may I have the grace
to receive their love for me,
to weather any arguments,
and to know that I belong,
in your family, always,
Amen.