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1Ti_5:13. Ἅμα δὲ καὶ ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσι περιερχόμεναι τὰς οἰκίας ] By far the greater number of expositors connect μανθάνουσι immediately with περιερχόμεναι , “they learn to run about in houses” (Luther; so, too, de Wette, Wiesinger, van Oosterzee). But μανθάνειν with the partic. does not mean learn; it is “observe, perceive, remark;” μανθάνειν , in the sense of learn (“accustom oneself”), has always the infinitive (comp. 1Ti_5:4). Leo therefore takes it here as “be wont to;” but this sense only occurs in the preterite. Winer (pp. 325 f. [E. T. p. 436]) thinks it probable that ἀργαὶ μανθάνουσι are to be taken together, “they learn idleness” (or “they learn to be lazy;” so in the second edition of this commentary; so, too, Hofmann). It is in favour of this construction that the chief emphasis is laid on ἀργαί ; but no passage can be found confirming it.[184] Besides, the position of ἈΡΓΑΊ shows that it belongs to the subject. Bengel had taken refuge in supplying something explaining it: discunt quae domos obeundo discuntur, i. e statum familiarum curiose explorant. Buttmann (pp. 260 f.) agrees with this explanation, only that he regards the supplied words: statum, etc., as too arbitrary and sweeping; he observes: “what they learn ΠΕΡΙΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΑΙ Τ . ΟἸΚ . is sufficiently indicated, not indeed grammatically, but in sense, by ἈΡΓΑΊ , ΦΛΥΑΡΟΊ , ΠΕΡΙΈΡΓΟΙ , ΛΑΛΟῦΣΑΙ ΤᾺ ΜῊ ΔΈΟΝΤΑ .” But if, as Buttmann thinks, we are to assume here an anacolouthon, it would be more natural to find the hint of what is to be supplied in the ΠΕΡΙΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΑΙ Τ . ΟἸΚ ., so that the meaning would be: they learn ΠΕΡΙΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΑΙ this very ΠΕΡΙΈΡΧΕΣΘΑΙ .
On the construction ΠΕΡΙΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΑΙ ΤᾺς ΟἸΚΊΑς , comp. Mat_4:23 : ΠΕΡΙῆΓΕΝ ὍΛΗΝ ΤῊΝ ΓΑΛΙΛΑΊΑΝ .
Οὐ ΜΌΝΟΝ ΔῈ ἈΡΓΑῚ , ἈΛΛᾺ ΚΑῚ ΦΛΎΑΡΟΙ Κ . Τ . Λ .] ΦΛΎΑΡΟΙ , “talkative” (Luther), only occurs here; the verb ΦΛΥΑΡΈΩ in 3Jn_1:10. Theophylact: ΠΕΡΙΟΔΕΎΟΥΣΑΙ ΤᾺς ΟἸΚΊΑς , ΟὐΔῈΝ ἈΛΛʼ Ἢ ΤᾺ ΤΑΎΤΗς ΕἸς ἘΚΕΊΝΗΝ ΦΈΡΟΥΣΙ , ΚΑῚ ΤᾺ ἘΚΕΊΝΗς ΕἸς ΤΑΎΤΗΝ . Calvin: ex otio nascebatur curiositas, quae ipsa garrulitatis est mater.
ΚΑῚ ΠΕΡΊΕΡΓΟΙ , “inquisitive,” Luther (likewise ἍΠ . ΛΕΓ .; but in 2Th_3:11 : ΜΗΔῈΝ ἘΡΓΑΖΟΜΈΝΟΥς , ἈΛΛᾺ ΠΕΡΙΕΡΓΑΖΟΜΈΝΟΥς ), forms a peculiar contrast to the preceding ἈΡΓΑΊ ; Chrysostom: Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ΤᾺ ἙΑΥΤΟῦ ΜῊ ΜΕΡΙΜΝῶΝ ΤᾺ ἙΤΈΡΟΥ ΜΕΡΙΜΝΉΣΕΙ ΠΆΝΤΩς .
ΛΑΛΟῦΣΑΙ ΤᾺ ΜῊ ΔΈΟΝΤΑ ] added to define further what precedes.
In these two verses Paul sets forth the danger of receiving young widows into the class of church-widows. It is not improbable that there were definite instances, and these caused the apostle to speak in this general way.
[184] Winer, indeed, quotes two passages, one from Plato, Euthyd. 276b: οἱ ἀμαθεῖς ἄρα σοφοὶ μανθάνουσι , and the other from Dio Chr. 55. 558: ὁ Σωκράτης ὅτι μὲν παῖς ὢν ἐμάνθανε λιθοξόος τὴν τοῦ πατρὸς τέχνην , ἀκηκόαμεν . Buttmann remarks on the first, that the addition σοφοί (which is quite meaningless) is rejected on MS. authority, and on the other that it is of quite a different nature. In both, cases he is clearly right.