Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 5:14

 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Let us read verses 11-16

11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.

Here is the Barclay commentary...

THE PERILS OF IDLENESS
1 Timothy 5:11–16

Refuse to enroll the younger women as widows, for when they grow impatient with the restrictions of Christian widowhood, they wish to marry, and so deserve condemnation, because they have broken the pledge of their first faith; and, at the same time, they learn to be and bear children, and run a house and home, and give our opponents no chance of abuse. For, even as things are, some of them have turned aside from the way to follow Satan. If any believing person has widowed relations, let such a person help them, and let not the Church be burdened with the responsibility, so that it may care for those who are genuinely in the position of widows.

A PASSAGE like this reflects the situation in society in which the early Church found itself.

It is not that younger widows are condemned for marrying again. What is condemned is this. A young husband dies; and the widow, in the first bitterness of sorrow and on the impulse of the moment, decides to remain a widow all her life and to dedicate her life to the Church, but later she changes her mind and remarries. That woman is regarded as having taken Christ as her bridegroom. So, by marrying again, she is regarded as breaking her marriage vow to Christ. She would have been better never to have taken the vow.

What complicated this matter very much was the social background of the times. It was next to impossible for a single or a widowed woman to earn her living honestly. There was practically no trade or profession open to her. The result was inevitable; she was almost driven to prostitution in order to live. The Christian woman, therefore, had either to marry or to dedicate her life completely to the service of the Church; there was no half-way house.

In any event, the perils of idleness remain the same in any age. There was the danger of becoming restless: because a woman did not have enough to do, she might become one of those individuals who drift from house to house in an empty social round. It was almost inevitable that such a woman would become a gossip: because she had nothing important to talk about, she would tend to talk scandal, repeating tales idle and to run from house to house. Yes, they can become more than idle; they can become gossips and busybodies, saying things which should not be repeated. It is my wish that the younger widows should marry, from house to house, each time with a little more embellishment and a little more malice. Such a woman ran the risk of becoming a busybody: because she had nothing of her own to hold her attention, she would be very apt to be over interested and over-interfering in the affairs of others.

It was true then, as it is true now, that, as the hymn-writer Isaac Watts had it, ‘Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.’ The full life is always the safe life, and the empty life is always the life in peril.

So, the advice is that these younger women should marry and engage upon the greatest task of all, rearing a family and making a home. Here we have another example of one of the main thoughts of the Pastoral Epistles. They are always concerned with how Christians appear to the outside world. Do they give any opportunity to criticize the Church or reason to admire it? It is always true that ‘the greatest handicap the Church has is the unsatisfactory lives of professing Christians’ and equally true that the greatest argument for Christianity is a genuinely Christian life. ~The Barclay Commentary

Now to the other commentaries.

The verse can be broken down into various parts but unlike some we have discussed, the breakdown differs among the commentaries I went to. Therefore, we will take this verse one commentary at a time.

First, the Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

Every one brought into any office in the church, should be free from just censure; and many are proper objects of charity, yet ought not to be employed in public services. Those who would find mercy when they are in distress, must show mercy when they are in prosperity; and those who show most readiness for every good work, are most likely to be faithful in whatever is trusted to them. Those who are idle, very seldom are only idle, they make mischief among neighbours, and sow discord among brethren. All believers are required to relieve those belonging to their families who are destitute, that the church may not be prevented from relieving such as are entirely destitute and friendless. ~Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Now from Barnes Notes:

I will therefore - I give it as my opinion; or this is my counsel; compare notes, 1 Corinthians 7:6, 1 Corinthians 7:40.

Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 7:6
But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

1 Corinthians 7:40
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

That the younger women marry - The word “women” is not expressed or necessarily implied in the original - neooteras - - and it is evident that the apostle here had particular reference to “widows,” and that the injunction should be understood as relating to them. We are not to suppose that he gives this as an absolute and universal command, for it might not always be at the option of the widow to marry again, and it cannot be doubted that there may be cases where it would be unadvisable. But he speaks of this as a general rule. It is better for such persons to have domestic concerns that require their attention, than it is to be exposed to the evils of an idle life. We may learn from this:

(1) that second marriages are not improper or unlawful, but that in some circumstances they may be preferable to widowhood;
(2) that marriage itself is in a high degree honorable. How different are the views of the inspired apostle Paul about marriage from those of the Papists!

Bear children, guide the house - These words signify, says Bloomfield, to “exercise and occupy themselves in the duties of a wife.” It is better to be employed in the duties growing out of the cares of a family, than to lead a life of celibacy.

Give none occasion to the adversary - The enemy of religion - the pagan or the infidel.

To speak reproachfully - Margin, “for their railing.” That is, on account of a life which would do no honor to religion. In the performance of domestic duties, when fully employed, they would avoid the evils specified in 1 Timothy 5:13. Every one who professes religion should so live as to give no occasion to an infidel or a man of the world to speak reproachfully of the cause of the Redeemer. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verse:
1 Timothy 5:13 [see lesson]
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Let us go now to the Adam Clarke:

I will therefore that the younger women marry - As the preceding discourse has been about the younger widows, and this is an inference from it; it is most evident that by the younger women the apostle means the young widows. These he considers unfit for the office of the female diaconate, and therefore wills them to marry, educate children, and give themselves wholly up to domestic affairs. Here the apostle, so far from forbidding second marriages, positively enjoins or at least recommends them. And what man of sense could have done otherwise in the cases he mentions? It is no sin in any case to marry, bear children, and take care of a family; but it is a sin in every case to be idle persons, gadders about, tattlers, busybodies, sifting out and detailing family secrets, etc., etc. We should [remain] busy; For Satan finds some mischief, still, For idle hands to do.” Dr. Watts.

The adversary - Any person, whether Jew or Gentile, who might be watching for an occasion to reproach, through the misconduct of its professors, the cause of Christianity. ~Adam Clark

Now from the John Gill:

I will therefore that the younger women marry - Or "the younger" widows rather; and so some copies read; for this is not the apostle's advice to young women in general, though it will suit with them, but with younger widows in particular, of whom he is speaking:

bear children - and bring them forth, and feed, and nourish them, and bring them up in a religious way:

guide the house - manage domestic affairs, direct, order, or do what is proper to be done for the good of the family; which is much more commendable than to throw themselves upon the church, and live an idle and wanton life, and after that marry: and so give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully - that is, either that Satan, the grand adversary of the saints, might have no opportunity to reproach them, and cast in their teeth their unbecoming walk, or accuse them before the throne; or that any enemy of the Christian religion might have no room nor reason to speak evilly of Christ, his Gospel, truths, and ordinances, on account of the disorderly conversation of any that profess his name; or that the great opposer of Christ, the man of sin, and son of perdition, even antichrist, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, might have no handle from hence to speak reproachfully of marriage, and forbid it, under a pretence of sanctity, as 1 Timothy 4:3. ~John Gill

Quoted verses:
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

1 Timothy 4:3 [see lesson]
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Now the Matthew Henry commentary does its presentation in a way different from the others. It is more of a running dialog across a number of verses. Let's take a look at it.

He cautions them to take heed of admitting into the number those who are likely to be no credit to them (1 Timothy 5:11): The younger widows refuse: they will be weary of their employments in the church, and of living by rule, as they must do; so they will marry, and cast off their first faith. You read of a first love (Revelation 2:4 -Ephesians losing first love), and here of a first faith, that is, the engagements they gave to the church to behave well, and as became the trust reposed in them: it does not appear that by their first faith is meant their vow not to marry, for the scripture is very silent on that head; besides the apostle here advises the younger widows to marry (1 Timothy 5:14), which he would not if hereby they must have broken their vows. Dr. Whitby well observes, “If this faith referred to a promise made to the church not to marry, it could not be called their first faith.” Withal they learn to be idle, and not only idle, but tattlers, etc., 1 Timothy 5:13. Observe, It is seldom that those who are idle are idle only, they learn to be tattlers and busy-bodies, and to make mischief among neighbours, and sow discord among brethren. Those who had not attained to such a gravity of mind as was fit for the deaconesses (or the widows who were taken among the church's poor), let them marry, bear children, etc.. Observe, If housekeepers do not mind their business, but are tattlers, they give occasion to the adversaries of Christianity to reproach the Christian name, which, it seems, there were some instances of, 1 Timothy 5:15 ["some are already turned aside after Satan"].  ~Matthew Henry

Now from the Jamieson, Fausset, Brown:

younger women — rather, as ellipsis ought to be supplied, “the younger widows,” namely younger widows in general, as distinguished from the older widows taken on the roll of presbyteresses (1 Timothy 5:9). The “therefore” means seeing that young widows are exposed to such temptations, “I will,” or “desire,” etc. (1 Timothy 5:11-13 - see lessons on 11 - 12 -13). The precept here that they should marry again is not inconsistent with 1 Corinthians 7:40; for the circumstances of the two cases were distinct (compare 1 Corinthians 7:26). Here remarriage is recommended as an antidote to sexual passion, idleness, and the other evils noted in 1 Timothy 5:11-13. Of course, where there was no tendency to these evils, marriage again would not be so requisite; Paul speaks of what is generally desirable, and supposing there should be danger of such evils, as was likely. “He does not impose a law, but points out a remedy, to younger widows” [Chrysostom].

Quoted verses:
1 Corinthians 7:40
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 7:26
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

bear children — (1 Timothy 2:15 - "some turned aside after Satan."); thus gaining one of the qualifications (1 Timothy 5:10 - good works of the widow listed) for being afterwards a presbyteress widow, should Providence so ordain it.

guide — Greek, “rule the house” in the woman’s due place; not usurping authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:12 - "not to usurp authority over the man.").

give none occasion — literally, “starting-point”: handle of reproach through the loose conduct of nominal Christians.

the adversary — of Christianity, Jew or Gentile. Philippians 1:28; Titus 2:8, “He that is of the contrary part.” Not Satan, who is introduced in a different relation (1Timothy 5:15 - turning to Satan).

Quoted verses:
Philippians 1:28
And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Titus 2:8
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

to speak reproachfully — literally, “for the sake of reproach” (1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:5, Titus 2:10). If the handle were given, the adversary would use it for the sake of reproach. The adversary is eager to exaggerate the faults of a few, and to lay the blame on the whole Church and its doctrines [Bengel]. ~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown

Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 6:1
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:5
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Now from the People's New Testament:

The younger widows refuse - Do not take them into this number for the reason that they in part will wish to marry again.

Having damnation - Not because they marry, but because after entering a class consecrated entirely to church work, they forsake its duties in order to marry.

Withal, they learn to be idle - They have not that gravity which is required for this work of visitation and ministration laid upon the "widows indeed," but wander from house to house to gossip.

I will, therefore, that the younger women marry. - None are to enter upon this consecrated life but the aged; there are to be no young nuns. The apostle distinctly forbids the conventual system which now exists in the Romish church.  ~People's New Testament

Recap of this lesson:

1] Do not allow idleness.
2] Do not learn thing you ought not.  Especially true concerning false information and doctrine.
3] Think actions out to their logical or predictable conclusions.
4] Do not give our enemies an opportunity to scoff or attack church members, our church, our doctrines, our Work, Jesus Christ and/or God the Father.
5] Do not take even one step toward a negative process or idea.
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