Ezekiel, Jonah, and Pastoral Epistles by Patrick Fairbairn - 1 Timothy 5:5 - 5:5

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Ezekiel, Jonah, and Pastoral Epistles by Patrick Fairbairn - 1 Timothy 5:5 - 5:5


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Ver. 5. Turning, then, from such widows and their families to those whom he wished more particularly to press on the notice of Timothy and the officers of the church, the apostle says: But she who is a widow indeed (a widow in the full and proper sense), and desolate, has set her hope on God, and abides in supplications and prayers night and day: she has lost, in a manner, all she had on earth, and now she seeks all from above. The Anna who is mentioned at the threshold of gospel history may be taken as one of the better types of the class, since it is written of her that “she departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” It is not to be supposed, of course, that in every case of this description the entire life was to be devoted to prayer and other religious exercises; for this would commonly be impossible, and even where possible would not be the most profitable course. To preserve the healthfulness of its tone, and its capacity for efficient service, the mind requires variety of employment; and in all ordinary cases, the discharge of relative duties amid the affairs and occupations of life not only may, but should, be ever interchanging with acts of piety. Hence, it will be observed, the temporal expressions are in the genitive ( íõêôὸò êáὶ ἡìÝñáò ), indicative of the when rather than the how long; not throughout night and day, but by night as well as by day —a steady and regular habit of devotion. The supplications and prayers ( äåÞóåóéí êáὶ ôáῖò ðñïóåõ÷áῖò ) are not to be sharply distinguished from each other.