Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy 5:1 - Confronting Men

When confronting rebellious family members, we are to do so lovingly. After all, it’s love that led us to confront them in the first place. He counsels Timothy not to “sharply rebuke” an older man. This verb is a strong term that references harsh or violent rebuke. And this was not how to confront a brother or sister. He is prohibiting what could be termed as verbal violence. Even rebellious Christians are not to be hammered with harsh words. It is not the way of love and it almost certainly will not have the desired result.