Subscribe: https://youtube.com/StJohnDC?sub_confirmation=1
The Pastoral Epistles of Saint Paul
Talk by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), part 35, 1 Timothy 5-6
April 2, 2023

Topics include: 
(1) Monastery and Parish as family. Abbot means "father"; 
(2) The Church's ministry to widows. Being a widow without family in Roman times was a disaster. The "order of widows" was the prototype of the monastic movement. Paul's injunction against remarriage for widows was against breaking a vow to remain a widow, not against remarriage per se --- he encouraged the remarriage of young widows. 
(3) Filial responsibility is sacred for Christians. We must be ready to assist and honor our parents regardless of any religious commitments; 
(4) He who lives for self-indulgence is already dead while he lives; 
(5) Responsibilities toward clergy: to honor and compensate them and to not bring any charge against them except with 2-3 witnesses. Canon Law requires that such a charge can only be brought by an Orthodox Christian in good standing; 
(6) Admonitions to Timothy and other clergy: show no partiality or prejudgment; do not be hasty to ordain clergy; beware of those puffed up with "secret knowledge" or "gnosis" and various myths. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that matters; 
(7) To slaves: Slavery was an integral institution in NT times. Paul admonishes slaves to submit to their masters for the glory of Christ and to treat believing masters as brothers; 
(8) Against "teachers of new things": such teachers often hide under a cloak of traditionalism but are really modernists. Their motivation is for self-gain, not just monetary, but especially power; 
(9) Warnings against the love of money: it is a trap and the root of all kinds of evil. Money does not make you happy; in fact, often quite the opposite. It is not security, certainly not in the next life. We are called to be content with what we have and to use riches in the right way, not to puff up ego, but to be generous and help the Church and the poor. The Rich Man in the parable of Lazarus had become so conceited that he was even oblivious to the poor man on his own doorstep. "Lay not up for yourself treasures on earth .. for where your treasure is; there will your heart be also."