Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Timothy 5:12

"having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge." — 1 Timothy 5:12 (ASV)

Having damnation.—Judgment, not necessarily “damnation.” The Greek word krima is often in this way unhappily translated. The context of the passage must in all cases decide the nature of the “judgment,” whether favorable or the contrary. Here it signifies that those who later give up a work that they had undertaken for their Master’s sake expose themselves to a searching judgment. This judgment will thoroughly sift the reasons that induced them to forsake the work they had begun. If the reasons are not satisfactory, the judgment will be unfavorable and will surely involve condemnation.

Because they have cast off their first faith.—Though, probably, no vows regarding marriage were required from those widows who devoted themselves to the Lord’s service, yet such a solemn enrollment essentially had the character of a life-long engagement—an engagement which, if they married again, must necessarily be given up.

Such a going back, such a giving up the higher and the more devoted life—the life of self-sacrifice, of self-abnegation—for the ordinary joys and cares of domestic life, for the useful but still everyday pursuits of ordinary men and women—such a going back, would indeed be a casting off their first faith, and such an example of backsliding could not fail to harm the cause of Christ.